So what changes do you want/expect this weekend?Cotter doesn't really make sweeping changes from week to week but he has been giving new players a shot.

The Blues have the bye the following week so I'm hoping none of the players with niggles play. Give those guys a chance to recover 100%

I presume Dalton and Zarn can't play. Be cautious with Perofeta's dodgy calves. McWhannell, Nock & Lay should be back?

Maybe a starting trio of Segner/Sotutu/Barnes? Possibly Wrampling on the bench? There's not really any openside cover when Dalton is missing

Spencer to get a start at fullback with Zarn out? I would prefer to have a longer look at him that go back to Forbes

The other one I would like to see is Cameron off the bench

@Duluth

Barrett took a pretty heavy knock in the 2nd half. Might get limited minutes?

Will this be the week we see Ake? If McWhannell isn't available will we see one of the over locks on the bench?

What happened with Sullivan? HIA?

@Tim

Yeah I think Zarn was a head knock

Good point about Barrett. Maybe Perofeta is good to go?

If Perofeta's calf issues are lingering again we really need to look at the next option (Taele, Rico?). I think we haven't subbed off a ten all year

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

If Perofeta's calf issues are lingering again we really need to look at the next option (Taele, Rico?). I think we haven't subbed off a ten all year

Definitely would be good to give the next option some game time. Perofeta's injury problems combined with Plummer's departure have created another depth issue at 10.

I would like to see Simpson in the 23. By all accounts he looked good in preseason and has been playing for the development team

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

@Tim

Yeah I think Zarn was a head knock

Good point about Barrett. Maybe Perofeta is good to go?

If Perofeta's calf issues are lingering again we really need to look at the next option (Taele, Rico?). I think we haven't subbed off a ten all year

I assume the headknock was from the highshot from Amatosero that wasn't sighted? Sullivan posted it on social media lol.

Xavi Taele at 10 , Spencer 15 . Could see that happening.

I haven't seen anything impressive about Spencer compared to what Forbes has delivered in the past. Spencer seems like a real lightweight. Needs to put some beef on.

Thoughts on seeing how Taele goes at 15?

@brodean said in Blues v Drua:

compared to what Forbes has delivered in the past

Forbes' 2026 form isn't that good and it sounds like he's signing overseas.

With a couple of guys out, I'd rather find out more about a younger player (I suspect Cotter would go with Forbes though)

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

Maybe a starting trio of Segner/Sotutu/Barnes? Possibly Wrampling on the bench? There's not really any openside cover when Dalton is missing

Jed Melvin ?

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

@brodean said in Blues v Drua:

compared to what Forbes has delivered in the past

Forbes' 2026 form isn't that good and it sounds like he's signing overseas.

With a couple of guys out, I'd rather find out more about a younger player (I suspect Cotter would go with Forbes though)

That's because hes been played on the wing. He is not a good winger. He is a playmaker fullback. In all honesty I was surprised Spencer was retained after what he showed for Auckland last year

@cgrant said in Blues v Drua:

Jed Melvin ?

Hopefully Melvin plays this game. He was outstanding in the development teams last game vs the Crusaders. I rate him and suspect he will thrive at Super level in a strong pack. I would pick him to replace Dalton in the squad next year. He is also effective in all 3 loosie positions.

1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (159)
2. Bradley Slater (3)
3. Marcel Renata (72)
4. Josh Beehre (33)
5. Sam Darry (c) (39)
6. Torian Barnes (5)
7. Anton Segner (44)
8. Malachi Wrampling (2)
9. Taufa Funaki (37)
10. Beauden Barrett (47)
11. Caleb Clarke (81)
12. Pita Ahki (19)
13. AJ Lam (64)
14. Cole Forbes (34)
15. Payton Spencer (1)

Reserves: 16. James Mullan (9), 17. Mason Tupaea (14), 18. Sam Matenga (4), 19. Che Clark (6), 20. Jed Melvin (debut), 21. Finlay Christie (74), 22. Xavi Taele (11), 23. Codemeru Vai (6)

Players not considered due to injury: Cameron Christie (knee, season), Corey Evans (ankle), Joshua Fusitu’a (bicep), Jordan Lay (concussion), Laghlan McWhannell (concussion), Sam Nock (concussion), Dalton Papali’i (back), Stephen Perofeta (calf), Hoskins Sotutu (knee), Zarn Sullivan (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder)

Happy with that side. Melvin earns a debut & we get to have a longer look at Spencer

Haereiti Hetet, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani (c), Kemu Valetini, Ponipate Loganimasi, Iosefo Namoce, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Epeli Momo, Iliasia Droasese

Replacements: Mesulame Dolokolo, Emosi Tuqiri, Peni Ravai, Joseva Tamani, Isoa Tuwai, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Virimi Vakatawa

8 of those injured players could be in a top 23 selection, so our depth is being tested. Lets hope most of them are back after the bye round for the business end. Locks and loosies for this game are very young. Darry the 'veteran' at 25 years old. Looking forward to see Melvin go. I hope he gets decent minutes.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:

our depth is being tested

So far the young guys have responded

I'm always nervous about Clark covering lock. It's asking a lot of a guy who hasn't settled into the loosies at this level

Huge game for Melvin. He's basically playing for a 2027 contract

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

nervous about Clark covering lock

Its an interesting and risky choice. If a lock goes down early we put the scrum and lineout at risk. Also both dev. Locks (Cook and Lee) have been going very well. Mind you I still rate Clark as a player and hope he gets some decent game time in his specialist position at some stage to give him confidence.
Random thought - could Akira be off contract soon and be back next year?

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:

Random thought - could Akira be off contract soon and be back next year?

Was wondering about that the other day. I couldn't find anything on how long his Japanese contract was.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:

Random thought - could Akira be off contract soon and be back next year?

The thought crossed my mind too - with Rennie in Japan and Rennie made a reference in his initial press conference around how many kiwis are overseas and looking to get some back.

Consistency. Love it.

Backrow is the Blues back row for the next 3-5 years. Unless we can find a really good 7, Segner will cover.

Need a bonus point win going into the bye seeing how log jammed 1-5 are.

Hopefully Canes will do the job against Reds and Tahs can upset the Brumbies.

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

View embedded content

1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (159)
2. Bradley Slater (3)
3. Marcel Renata (72)
4. Josh Beehre (33)
5. Sam Darry (c) (39)
6. Torian Barnes (5)
7. Anton Segner (44)
8. Malachi Wrampling (2)
9. Taufa Funaki (37)
10. Beauden Barrett (47)
11. Caleb Clarke (81)
12. Pita Ahki (19)
13. AJ Lam (64)
14. Cole Forbes (34)
15. Payton Spencer (1)

Reserves: 16. James Mullan (9), 17. Mason Tupaea (14), 18. Sam Matenga (4), 19. Che Clark (6), 20. Jed Melvin (debut), 21. Finlay Christie (74), 22. Xavi Taele (11), 23. Codemeru Vai (6)

---

Players not considered due to injury: Cameron Christie (knee, season), Corey Evans (ankle), Joshua Fusitu’a (bicep), Jordan Lay (concussion), Laghlan McWhannell (concussion), Sam Nock (concussion), Dalton Papali’i (back), Stephen Perofeta (calf), Hoskins Sotutu (knee), Zarn Sullivan (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder)

Don't think it's been mentioned, but the Joeli Vidiri Memorial Trophy will be on the line for the first time between these sides.

@African-Monkey look up booboo

Will be interesting to keep an eye on Darry's captaincy.

Forbes should not be playing wing.

@Tim said in Blues v Drua:

Forbes should not be playing wing.

Bingo. No reason he should be starting over Vai. Ridiculous

Forbes butchers the kick chase by chasing too hard....

Funaki caught napping and its 7-7

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Drua:

Funaki caught napping and its 7-7

That clean out on Funaki after they stole it should have been a card.

Feel like I’m watching the 2014/2015 Highlanders with the Drua wearing that colour jersey

It's been hot (26C) and humid today, but this handling is disappointing.

Drua playing well so far.

@African-Monkey Our defence is a bit different with this loose trio.

Comedy.

What was that Spencer

The harsh truth is that Spencer would be nowhere near Super Rugby with a different surname

Can’t give the Drua a sniff. If the blues don’t get their stuff together this could be quite the interesting game