Blues

Charlie Ngatai unlikely for Blues clash

After his year out following a head knock last season, Ngatai missed the match against the Crusaders in Fiji last Friday after reporting a headache post-training on the Monday. The team played it safe and kept him from travelling with the squad overseas the following day.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said while Ngatai was on the improve, he was unlikely to play a part at Eden Park.

"Charlie's pretty good," he said. "He's had about four days symptom-free. But we're unlikely to use him this week. We want to be really sure.

Matt Duffie cleared for Blues

Blues wing Matt Duffie has escaped a suspension after the first red card of his Super Rugby career.

The 26-year-old rugby league convert was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the Blue's 30-22 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

Duffie's first yellow came for repeated team infringing - four successive penalties early in the match. His second for diving on a player on the ground. 

A Sanzaar judicial committee has upheld the red card but said it did not warrant further punishment.

Tana Umaga wants answers from refs boss

Francis is expected to miss Friday's match against the Chiefs at Eden Park due to concussion after copping an errant swinging arm from Stormers second five-eighth Shaun Treeby on the chin in the 47th minute.

Speaking after the 30-22 loss which probably ends the Blues' playoff hopes, Umaga said the team doctor confirmed Francis was unconscious as a result of the blow. The first-five was taken from the field and replaced by Bryn Gatland.

Blues smash Cheetahs 50-32

In what was an end-to-end affair despite dour Eden Park conditions, a try-happy Blues outfit ran in eight five-pointers to four and appeared likely to cut through a meek Cheetahs defensive line at every opportunity.

All Blacks hopeful Rieko Ioane ran riot, scoring two tries and setting up another, while midfielder George Moala did his Test prospects no harm in a classy display.

Loose forward Steven Luatua also impressed as an all-action blindside.

Blues outclass Brumbies 18-12 in Canberra

Despite being last in the New Zealand group, the Blues were too good for the conference-topping Brumbies in a stark illustration of the gulf between Kiwi outfits and their trans-Tasman rivals.

It was the Brumbies' third loss in a row and ninth consecutive defeat to New Zealand opposition.

The Blues dominated possession from the outset on Sunday but were unable to breach the Brumbies dogged defence for the opening half hour in front of 12,072 at GIO Stadium.

Winger Matt Duffie broke the deadlock, with a George Moala offload helping him to cross after 31 minutes.

Hurricanes claim narrow win over Blues

An unlikely brace of tries to lock Mark Abbott underpinned Saturday's win, the defending champions' sixth from seven matches this season.

Poor handling and some questionable option-taking again let the Blues down, the loss leaving the Aucklanders at the bottom of the New Zealand conference with just three wins from eight starts.

First blood went to the Hurricanes after three minutes when Abbott bulldozed over from close range, punishing some loose Blues defence around the ruck.

Sonny Bill Williams sports his new jersey for Blues against Hurricanes

Sonny Bill Williams sported his newly-designed Blues jersey at Auckland's Eden Park tonight in his side's Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes.

The jersey was adorned with the Plunket logo stitched on to both sides of the collar.

New Zealand Rugby and the Blues this week to Williams' request to have advertising from BNZ and Investec removed from his jersey.

Williams raised eyebrows last week when he taped over the BNZ logo on the collar of his Blues jersey.

SBW made a mistake

Williams covered up the BNZ logo on his blues jersey in their match against the Highlanders last weekend due to religious beliefs.

NZR and the Blues have now given him permission have the logos of two banks, BNZ and Investec, removed from his kit.

NZR General Manager of Rugby, Neil Sorenson, said conscientious objections have

been in the collective employment agreement for almost ten years.

Sonny Bill Williams likely to have special jersey

Stuff understands a statement is being prepared from New Zealand Rugby, the Blues, Investec and the BNZ on Tuesday. All are expected to state they have no issue with Williams' conscientious objection to wearing bank logos on his playing shirt. The hold-up is waiting for comment from Investec's office in South Africa.  

Blues don't know why Williams taped up logo

The taped-up collar was obvious when the All Black centre came off the bench in the Blues game against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday night.

It was understood Williams, who is Muslim, covered the logo for religious reasons.

Muslims believe the charging of interest is prohibited by the Quran.

As a part of their collective agreement any player can lodge a conscientious objection to promoting finance, alcohol, tobacco, gambling companies and banks.