Super Rugby Pacific: Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu to miss semi, final with knee injury

If the Blues are to capture the Super Rugby Pacific crown, they must find a way to do so without inspirational captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who has been sidelined for 6-7 weeks with a knee injury.

The torn medial liagement in his right knee, suffered during his team's 36-5 quarter-final win over Fijian Drua at Eden Park, will also likely see him unavailable for the All Blacks' upcoming series against England.

Tuipultou, 31, lasted only 19 minutes of the game against the Drua, before hobbling to the dugout, where he spent the rest of the encounter with an icepack on the his knee, exposing rookies Josh Beehre and James Thompson in the Blues second row.

Beehre, 22, made his debut in the Blues' season-opener against the same opposition at his hometown of Whangārei, while Thompson was called into the reserves late for his second cap, after Cameron Suafoa succumbed to a calf injury.

Sam Darry and Laghlan McWhannell were unavailable, with both serving concussion protocols, but should be available for the home semi-final against ACT Brumbies.  

The Hurricanes will host the Chiefs in the second semi at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday.

Join Newshub at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Blues v Brumbies Super Rugby Pacific semi-final

If the Blues are to capture the Super Rugby Pacific crown, they must find a way to do so without inspirational captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who has been sidelined for 6-7 weeks with a knee injury.

The torn medial liagement in his right knee, suffered during his team's 36-5 quarter-final win over Fijian Drua at Eden Park, will also likely see him unavailable for the All Blacks' upcoming series against England.

Tuipultou, 31, lasted only 19 minutes of the game against the Drua, before hobbling to the dugout, where he spent the rest of the encounter with an icepack on the his knee, exposing rookies Josh Beehre and James Thompson in the Blues second row.

Beehre, 22, made his debut in the Blues' season-opener against the same opposition at his hometown of Whangārei, while Thompson was called into the reserves late for his second cap, after Cameron Suafoa succumbed to a calf injury.

Sam Darry and Laghlan McWhannell were unavailable, with both serving concussion protocols, but should be available for the home semi-final against ACT Brumbies.  

The Hurricanes will host the Chiefs in the second semi at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday.

Join Newshub at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Blues v Brumbies Super Rugby Pacific semi-final

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