All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams' long-awaited return to the Blues for Friday's Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes at Eden Park has thrown up two intriguing match-ups.
Blues and All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams. Photo: Photosport Ltd
In his first game since fracturing his wrist eight weeks ago, the blockbusting second five-eighth will need to be at his best against Hurricanes counterpart and four-Test All Black Ngani Laumape.
With the All Blacks selectors naming their squad to take on France in just 10 days, Blues coach Tana Umaga expects Williams to make an immediate impact.
"That's who he is, in terms of a player and a person," Umaga said.
"He's showed a lot of energy in the last couple of weeks, wanting to get back, and we have no doubt he'll do that."
Williams' return means Rieko Ioane shifts out to the right wing, where he faces the daunting task of reining in prolific Hurricanes try-scorer Ben Lam.
Lam has scored 12 tries in nine matches this season, the former Blues wing grabbing a hat-trick in last weekend's 28-19 win over the Lions in Wellington.
While Williams' return will boost the Blues' confidence, coach Chris Boyd says it won't make too much difference to the Hurricanes' approach.
"I don't think it'll be any different with Sonny Bill Williams or Rieko Ioane at 12 - it's much the same beast in a lot of ways with the size and physicality," he said.
"When you sit down and look at their team on paper, you'd be an absolute fool to take them lightly, and we know that we have a massive challenge going up there."
The return of prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi from a three-match injury break is an added bonus for the Blues, but despite Boyd's cautious words, their recent record has been poor.
They sit bottom of the New Zealand conference, with just three wins from 10 matches, haven't won at Eden Park in nearly a year and haven't beaten any New Zealand Super Rugby team since early 2016.
But against expectation, the Blues did manage to hold off the Waratahs 24-21 in Sydney last week, a win Umaga says was huge in terms of boosting confidence.
"You could just tell after the game, and it carried throughout the week - when we get things right and we stick to a plan, the results will come."
- RNZ
