Super Rugby trans-Tasman final: Blues, Highlanders name teams for Eden Park clash
Key Blues forwards Tom Robinson and Ofa Tuungafasi have been ruled out of Saturday's (5.05pm AEST) Super Rugby trans-Tasman final against the Highlanders at Eden Park.
Robinson, the club's vice-captain, suffered a head knock in the round five win over the Force while All Blacks prop Tuungafasi will undergo surgery on a bothersome knee.
"It's sad for Ofa who is our longest serving current player while Tom has led us well this year when (captain) Patrick (Tuipulotu) was injured," Blues coach Leon MacDonald said.
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Blues stars Ofa Tuungafasi and Tom Robinson have been ruled out of the Super Rugby trans-Tasman final. Getty
"The boys will be determined to do well for them on Saturday."
While far from ideal, MacDonald's Blues do have the luxury of real depth in their forward stocks to cover the losses.
Akira Ioane will start for Robinson at blindside flanker while another Test player, Nepo Laulala, will continue at tighthead.
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Flanker Dalton Papalii and five-eighth Otere Black were both cleared after proving their fitness at training.
The Blues will start favourites but the Highlanders also finished 5-0 in round-robin.
"The Highlanders have been outstanding all season," MacDonald said.
"They have excellent set-piece, they are very accurate and they have some dangerous attacking players. It should be a whale of a game."
Highlanders players celebrate a Jona Nareki try in Hamilton. Getty
Meanwhile, the Highlanders named dynamic winger Jona Nareki and giant lock Pari Pari Parkinson in their starting lineup after being under injury clouds.
Stuff quoted a Highlanders spokesman saying the key pair \, meaning an unchanged 23 from the one that beat the Brumbies in Canberra.
Inspirational co-captain Ash Dixon will play his 100th game for the Highlanders.
BLUES (15-1): Zarn Sullivan, Bryce Heem, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane, Mark Telea, Otere Black, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Nepo Laulala, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman
Reserves: Ray Niuia, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Marcel Renata, Josh Goodhue, Blake Gibson, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer, AJ Lam
HIGHLANDERS (15-1): Josh Ioane, Patelesio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (co-c), Kazuki Himeno, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Bryn Evans, Pari Pari Parkinson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (co-c), Ethan de Groot
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes, Kayne Hammington, Sam Gilbert, Teariki Ben-Nicholas
