Blues team named for Lions midweek clash

...Stephen Perofeta's first start at first five for the Blues will come against the British and Irish Lions.

The youngster has been given the nod for Wednesday night's Lions Series game at Eden Park.

Perofeta has been on the bench for the side's last two outings in Super Rugby against the Chiefs and Reds.

There's a host of changes to the side that beat the Reds, with Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Charlie Faumuina returning to start at prop and Scott Scrafton replacing Patrick Tuipulotu at lock who drops to the bench.

Akira Ioane and Blake Gibson take over flanker duties with Steven Luatua remaining at number eight.

Augustine Pulu gets the nod at halfback inside Perofeta, with Sonny Bill Williams bracketed at second five with TJ Faiane.

If Faiane starts, he'll be one of only two survivors from the win over the Reds in the backline alongside Rieko Ioane, with George Moala, Matt Duffie and Michael Collins returning.

Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams/ TJ Faiane, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Steve Luatua, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Reserves: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane/Melani Nanai

 ....the Lions will struggle to use jetlag as an excuse this time although still very early in the tour...Blues paying fairly good money for the win...
Blues $2.90 Lions $ 1. 37

 ... Blues play Wednesday...and the ABs team is named on Thursday

 SBW has been declared fit to play, I will enjoy that.

 Should be a good game, the Blues need to use their set piece as an attacking weapon. The Lions have changed pretty much the entire team so they wont really know what to expect. The Lions are preparing for a fast running free for all. What the Lions wont be expecting is that NZ SR teams actually have pretty decent set piece to utilise as well... yes NZ can play with structure and precision. 
The Lions looked to struggle with the pace and chaos of SH rugby, but they'll get better with game time. The Lions cant keep swapping and changing teams every week, Gatland will have to develop a core to work with so combinations can develop or if they start losing its game over for the Lions before they even meet the MIB. The Blues will be up for this in front of a nearly sold out Eden Park, they will go for broke they have nothing to lose. GO THE BLUE!!!

NZ's superugby derbies have been superb & the perfect prep for the Lions .  Q. Will the Lions have enough puff in the final quarter, when NZ teams turn on the screws by increasing their pace ? Doubt it.

Go the Blues, me money's on you .

I reckon the Lions are going to have their hands full against a settled Blues team. They hardly covered themselves in glory over the past weekend, and now it is a completely new and untested side. We shall see, but I reckon it would be a good bet to put a few bob on the Blues. 

 ...the Chiefs have Cruden running the show, the Canes Barret , the Saders Mo'unga, the Landers Sopoaga...and the Blues ??...Stephen Perofeta and he still qualifies for the U20s ...who has even really heard of him and he is set to make his first start at 10 in the Blues jersey coming up against the British and Irish Lions.... does'nt get much bigger or more exciting than that for a youngster...a great opportunity for Perofeata to make a name for himself..