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Two North American internationals will go head-to-head in the 2020 Super Rugby season opener at Eden Park on Friday. Canada captain Tyler Ardron run out for the visiting Chiefs while USA flanker Tony Lamborn is set to make his Blues debut on the No7 shirt.
Ardron has been a regular with the Hamilton-based Chiefs since signing from Welsh club Ospreys in 2017. In his two seasons he has racked up 26 starts, covering lock, blindside flanker, and his preferred No8. With All Blacks star Brodie Retallick moving to Japan until 2021, Ardron is expected to fill the gap in the second row.
Sam Cane captains the side with fellow World Cup select Nepo Laulala at tighthead prop. Other All Blacks in the side include scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Damian McKenzie, the electric playmaker who returns after missing the tournament in Japan with a serious knee injury.
Lamborn is handed his first Super Rugby start almost four years after his competition debut for the Hurricanes in April 2016. He played just four games for the Wellington-based side before committing to the Eagles at test level and missing out on further deals. He trained with the Melbourne Rebels in 2019 but did not make a match day appearance.
The home side are captained by All Blacks lock Patrick Tu’pulotu, with out-of-favor star Rieko Ioane starting at his usual left wing spot. Of note is the absence of brother Akira, whose No8 position goes to youngster Hoskins Sotutu with All Black flanker Dalton Papali’i on the blindside. England international Joe Marchant is set to debut at outisde center.
Both teams feature international talent on the bench. The Blues have New Zealand regulars Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tu’ungafasi as prop cover alongside Samoa hooker Ray Niuia. Five All Blacks are on the Chiefs bench including props Atu Moli and Angus Ta’avao, halfbacks Brad Weber and Aaron Cruden, and World Cup starter Anton Lienert-Brown.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 1am Eastern, 10pm Thursday Pacific. A live broadcast will be available on TSN Direct in Canada and ESPN+ in the USA.
BLUES
1 Alex Hodgman, 2 Kurt Eklund, 3 Sione Mafileo, 4 Patrick Tu’ipulotu (capt.), 5 Tom Robinson, 6 Dalton Papali’i, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 13 Joe Marchant, 14 Mark Telea, 15 Matt Duffie
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Emoni Narawa
CHIEFS
1 Aidan Ross, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Tyler Ardron, 5 Mitchell Brown, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 8 Sam Cane (capt.), 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10 Kaleb Trask, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 14 Sean Wainui, 15 Damian McKenzie
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Pita Gus Sowakula, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
Date: Friday, January 31
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kickoff: 19:05 local (01:05 Eastern, Thursday 22:05 Pacific)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistants: Paul Williams (New Zealand) & Paul Waenga (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), TSN Direct (Canada)
