Super Rugby Pacific moves to Melbourne for its Super Round Blues v highlanders Rugby 2024. Every team is playing at AAMI Park, part of Melbourne’s impressive sporting precinct, but it will be interesting to see just how many people from the famously AFL-obsessed city actually show up.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Date: Friday, March 1
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 18:00 local (07:00 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Marcus Playle (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Blues v highlanders Rugby match preview
All Blacks forwards Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Akira Ioane will make their first appearances of 2024 after being named in the Blues side to take on the Highlanders.
Tu’ungafasi and Ioane missed the Auckland outfit’s opening match of the season as they defeated Fijian Drua 34-10 last weekend.
Blues team to face Highlanders
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2, Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes