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Regional | Auckland Blues

Māori stars named on the Blues bench for opener

Tana Umaga has named his Blues side to take on the defending Super rugby champions, the Highlanders in their season opener at Eden Park this Friday night.

With a few surprising names in the starting 15, former All Black winger, Rene Ranger has made a clean bill of health and will come off the bench alongside Māori All Blacks and All Blacks Sevens star, Akira Ioane (Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau a Apanui).

Northland Taniwha prop, Namatahi Waa will make his official Super Rugby debut for the Blues off the bench.

The halfback and first 5/8 combination looks to be full strength with Bryn Hall and Ihaia West once again combining in the halves to lead the team around Eden Park on Friday night.

Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Friday 7:35pm

The team is as follows:

15 Lolagi Visinia

14 Melani Nanai

13 Male Sa'u

12 George Moala

11 Tevita Li

10 Ihaia West

9 Bryn Hall

8 Steven Luatua

7 Blake Gibson

6 Joe Edwards

5 Josh Edwards

4 Patrick Tuipulotu

3 Sione Mafileo

2 James Parsons (c)

1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Reserves:

16 Quentin MacDonald

17 Namatahi Waa

18 Charlie Faumuina

19 Akira Ioane

20 Kara Pryor

21 Billy Guyton

22 Matt McGahan

23 Rene Ranger