Blues

Blues Hooker Kurt Ekland helped himself to three tries in front of a home crowd of 15'000, while Corey Evans, Caleb Clarke, Bryce Heem and AJ Lam also scored for the hosts.

Moana Pasifika scored one try through Tomasi Alosio, while Christian Leali'ifano kicked three penalties.

The first half was a back and forward affair, with Moana Pasifika leading 6-0 early before the Blues sprung into action and scored twice in four minutes, eventually taking a 29-16 lead into the break.

Eleven players set to make their Moana Pasifika debut on Tuesday, with head coach Aaron Mauger using the full depth of his squad with only a four-day turnaround from Friday's historic win against the Hurricanes.

After playing for the Crusaders in Moana Pasifika's first match, prop Abraham Pole will make his debut for Moana Pasifika as a permanent replacement for the season.

In a release the Highlanders said they had cancelled today's training session, but at this point there has been no decision made on Friday's game in Dunedin.

They said there had been no change to the rest of their schedule this week.

The Highlanders have managed to play four games so far this season, losing all four of them.

However, another postponed game would be a major setback for Moana Pasifika, who have played just one game so far.

They had two games postponed at the start of the season because of Covid-19 in their camp.

After playing on for 10 minutes beyond the final hooter, the Blues left the field as 32-20 victors and Highlanders head home still searching for a way to win this season.

Covid-19 cases impacted on who was available to take the park on Friday, with the Highlanders leaving some of their squad in Dunedin and the Blues forced into making late changes to the starting side.

The Blues announced the relocation from Auckland to Wellington late on Wednesday, saying the move occurred to minimise risk.

The Hurricanes confirmed the fixture will be hosted behind closed doors at Rugby League Park on Sunday, with a 1pm kick-off. The game is not being broadcast.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said discussions about relocating the pre-season game started earlier in the week.

The power-packed 107kg Auckland and Blues wing made his big move in 2020 when, on the back of an outstanding Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign for the Blues, he was called into Ian Foster’s first All Blacks squad for the pared-back Rugby Championship/Bledisloe campaign and made every post a winner on the back of a game-turning display in his first test start on his home ground.

With centre duo Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell running amok, and Origin debutants Jarome Luai and Brian To'o putting their stamp on the interstate contest in memorable fashion, the Blues were unstoppable in racking up a 50-6 win in game one.

The Blues were virtually unaffected by Queensland closing its borders to residents from Sydney's COVID-19 hotspots and continued Origin camp in Kingscliff on the northern NSW.

The NSW squad headed north on Monday and was COVID tested before entering camp.

Back from his time playing in Japan and finished with his two weeks in managed isolation, the All Blacks star returned to Blues training on Tuesday.

Barrett's return also coincided with first-five Otere Black limping from the training field after taking a knock to his lower leg.

Asked about the prospect of Barrett stepping in if Black's injury did rule him out of Saturday's final in Auckland, Blues assistant coach Dan Halangahu was staying tight lipped.

"I don't want to say too much.

Needing only to win to secure their spot after the Crusaders failed to rack up enough points against the Rebels in Saturday's earlier match, the Blues completed their mission reasonably comfortably against the Perth-based Australians.

Four unanswered tries in the first half, including two for loose forward Hoskins Sotutu, all but secured the Blues a first home Super Rugby final since they won their third title in the international competition in 2003.

There are just three changes to the starting lineup, all in the forward pack.

Hoskins Sotutu, who debuted in the All Blacks last season, has been elevated back into the starting team at number 8 in place of fellow NZ representative Akira Ioane who drops to the bench.

Sotutu has missed just one game for the Blues this year and was also benched for last weekend’s clash with the Reds. Ioane, meanwhile, has featured in every single game for the Auckland franchise in 2021, either in the starting lineup or from the reserves.