Overview
- The Blues named Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, and Dalton Papali’i to start after injury layoffs, with Tuipulotu returning from off-season shoulder surgery for his first game of 2026.
- Caleb Clarke is out with a calf injury and Ofa Tu’ungafasi is unavailable after a head knock, so Mason Tupaea starts in the front row and Ben Ake could debut from the bench.
- Finlay Christie is set for his 100th Super Rugby game, while Beauden Barrett and Zarn Sullivan reach 50 appearances for the Blues.
- The Chiefs moved Quinn Tupaea to outside centre at No. 13 for his first Super Rugby start there since his rookie season, with Reon Paul earning his first start at second five-eighth.
- Chiefs coach Jono Gibbes selected a 6-2 bench with six forwards and two backs, and the squad lists 10 All Blacks in the starting lineup with two more on the bench.