Blues hooker James Parsons will make his return in the only change to their starting lineup for the match against the Vodacom Bulls in Auckland on Friday.

Coach Leon MacDonald has retained virtually the same starting lineup that lost to the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend.

The backline remains unchanged for the third straight game, with one change in the forwards where centurion Parsons returns from injury to start at hooker.

The resilient 23-year-old Akira Ioane will make his 32nd straight start, virtually all of them 80-minute performances, with All Black Dalton Papalii not recovered from a head knock.

Blues – 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson (cc), 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (cc), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons Leni Apisai, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Subs: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Lua Li, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Otere Black, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.

Vodacom Super Rugby teams (Round 16)

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix