Super Rugby Pacific Round 3 Preview: Blues Seek Redemption Against Hurricanes

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The Blues are looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats as they face the Hurricanes in a crucial Super Rugby Pacific match on Saturday. After being humbled at home by the Chiefs and beaten away by the Highlanders, the Blues are currently at the bottom of the table, with several of their All Blacks players under scrutiny due to their slow start. Blues coach Vern Cotter has backed his players to come good at Wellington Regional Stadium, making only one injury-forced change to his starting 15, with young lock Josh Beehre replacing Laghlan McWhannell.

The match between the Blues and Hurricanes is expected to be a fierce battle, with five of the last six matches between the teams at the 'Cake Tin' having been decided by margins of less than 10 points. Hurricanes assistant coach Cory Jane expects another intense clash, saying that the Blues will be "angry" and will come hard. The Hurricanes, who recovered from an opening loss to the Crusaders to beat Fijian Drua in a high-scoring thriller last weekend, will give 21-year-old loose forward Peter Lakai his first start of the season at No 8. Former Blue Kade Banks will also make his Hurricanes debut at fullback, and fans will be excited to see what last year's All Blacks rookie can do.

In other Super Rugby Pacific matches, the Chiefs play the Brumbies in Hamilton, looking to continue their perfect start under Munster-bound coach Clayton McMillan. The Brumbies, who suffered a record 46-12 hiding by the Chiefs in Melbourne last March, will need to bring something different to Hamilton following a deflating home defeat by Western Force. The Force, meanwhile, return to Perth where they will look for a third successive win against the Reds and continue their surprising early-season surge. The Les Kiss-coached Reds, looking for back-to-back wins after starting the season with a bye, welcome back co-captain and flanker Liam Wright on the bench after his long recovery from shoulder surgery. The winless Moana Pasifika kick off the round at home against Jamie Joseph's Highlanders in the early match on Friday, while Fijian Drua look for their first victory in Sydney against a New South Wales Waratahs team rested after a bye.

The Super Rugby Pacific tournament is heating up, with several teams looking to gain momentum and make a push for the top of the table. The Blues, in particular, are in need of a win to get their season back on track, and their match against the Hurricanes will be a crucial test of their character and resilience. The other matches in the round will also be closely watched, as teams look to make a statement and establish themselves as contenders in the tournament. Here are the match schedules for the round:

• Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders, Friday
• Blues vs Hurricanes, Saturday
• Chiefs vs Brumbies, Saturday
• Western Force vs Reds, Saturday
• Fijian Drua vs New South Wales Waratahs, Saturday

The Super Rugby Pacific tournament is known for its exciting and unpredictable matches, and this round is expected to be no exception. With several teams looking to make a statement and gain momentum, fans can expect a thrilling weekend of rugby action. The Blues, in particular, will be looking to turn their season around and get back to winning ways, and their match against the Hurricanes will be a crucial test of their abilities.