2024 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final Teams
The Blues and Chiefs have confirmed their sides for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Final.
The hosts have received a major boost with the return of captain and All Black Patrick Tuipulotu for Saturday’s decider.
Tuipulotu has made a timely recovery from an MCL injury suffered in the quarter-final win over the Fijian Drua.
It was originally rumoured that the injury would keep him out until the start of the Test season.
However, the Blues have named their captain to return in place of Josh Beehre in the second row.
“Patty’s a Blues man through and through and came to us this week pretty keen to play in a Grand Final,” said coach Vern Cotter.
“He tested the knee on Monday in the gym, then on the grass yesterday. He’s pulled up well and has the all-clear from our medical team – he’s a welcome addition to our pack, our talisman lock and leader.”
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are counting the cost of a physical semi-final after losing All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho.
Taukei’aho suffered a leg injury in the win over the Hurricanes, coming off after the 20th minute.
Tyrone Thompson has been thrown in for his first start of 2024, with Bradley Slater coming off the bench.
Slater also came off late with a knock, with Thompson last starting for the Chiefs in round 15 2023 against the Western Force.
The visitors were boosted by the return of fullback Shaun Stevenson, a late withdrawal due to a hamstring complaint.
Coach Clayton McMillan has made one change to the bench, with Manaaki Selby-Rickit in for Naitoa Ah Kuoi.
Saturday 22 June: Blues v Chiefs at Eden Park, Auckland (7:05 pm NZT/5:05 PM AEST)
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Sam Darry, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Stephen Perofeta
RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu’a, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Bryce Heem, Cole Forbes
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Tyrone Thompson, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O’Neill, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Damon Murphy
| MATCH FACTS |
- The Blues have won seven of their last 10 matches in Super Rugby competitions against the Chiefs (L3), including a 31-17 victory when they last met in Super Rugby Pacific earlier this season (1 June 2024); the Blues have won their last four meetings against the Chiefs at Eden Park by an average margin of 10 points per game.
- This is set to be the first Final between the Blues and Chiefs in Super Rugby history and the first time they’ve met at any stage during a finals series; the Blues lost their most recent Final against a New Zealand team (7-21 v Crusaders – Super Rugby Pacific 2022) snapping a two-match winning run in such fixtures, while the Chiefs have lost each of their two instances (20-25 v Crusaders – Super Rugby Pacific 2023 and 13-24 v Crusaders – Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021).
- This will be the Blues’ seventh Super Rugby Final (all competitions), the third most of any team in Super Rugby history (Crusaders – 17 and ACT Brumbies – 8); the Blues have won four of their previous six such fixtures (L2) – the second most of any team (Crusaders – W13).
- This will be the Chiefs’ sixth Super Rugby Final (all competitions); they have lost each of the last two occasions they’ve reached the Final (20-25 v Crusaders – Super Rugby Pacific 2023 and 13-24 v Crusaders – Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021) after winning back-to-back Finals prior to that span (27-22 v ACT Brumbies – Super Rugby 2013 and 37-6 v Sharks – Super Rugby 2012).
- The Blues have made dominant contact on 48.5 carries per game in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any team in the competition; in addition, the Blues’ 535.5 metres gained per game is the second most of any team in the campaign (Hurricanes – 539.9 per game).
- The Chiefs have conceded 11.6 turnovers per game in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, the fewest of any team in the competition; in addition, they have made 855 metres per game from their kicks in play, more than any other team in the campaign.
- Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) has made 20 offloads in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any forward and the second most of any player overall (Sevu Reece – 22 for Crusaders); three of those offloads have led to tries for the Blues – the joint-most of any player in the campaign (also Sevu Reece – 3 for Crusaders and Cole Forbes – 3 for Blues).
- Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) has made 17 break passes in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, more than any other player in the competition; in addition, he’s recorded 4,952 metres from his kicks in play – the second most of any player in the campaign (Ben Donaldson – 5,412 for Western Force).
- Caleb Clarke (Blues) has been directly involved in five tries in his last four Super Rugby Pacific matches (4 tries, 1 try assist), including three tries across his last two games; he’s scored two tries in his last three games in the competition against the Chiefs.
- Cortez Ratima (Chiefs) has been directly involved in 15 tries in his last 14 Super Rugby Pacific matches (9 tries, 6 try assists) including a try against the Hurricanes in the Semi Final last time out; although, he has not recorded a direct try involvement across 105 career minutes in the competition against the Blues.
