Tuesday 6 June 2017 08:27, UK
Stephen Perofeta will make his full Blues debut against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 8am.
The 20-year-old, who came off the bench to score the winning try against the Reds in last Friday's Super Rugby encounter in Samoa, will start at fly-half as head coach Tana Umaga resists the temptation to draft in Bryn Gatland for another tussle with his dad and Lions boss Warren.
Gatland Junior bossed the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians' backline as the Lions laboured to a 13-7 win in Saturday's tour opener, but Umaga hailed Perofeta's qualities as a youngster they held back from heading to the U20 World Championship.
All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams has been named in the starting line-up and has proven his fitness after knee trouble.
"Stephen's skill-set belies his age. He could have been with the New Zealand U20s but we kept him behind with losing Piers Francis to his England duties," said Umaga.
"And he's taken every opportunity to do that.
"We just want to make sure he's developing but he's earned the right to start for us this week.
"We don't want to put too much pressure on the young man but an opportunity against the Lions doesn't come around every day.
"I'm sure he's got a cool demeanour to handle that and with the support around him."
Blues: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 George Moala, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu; 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (c), 3 Charlie Faumuina, 4 Gerard Cowley Tuioti, 5 Scott Scrafton, 6 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Steven Luatua.
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Ihaia West, 23 TJ Faiane.
