Dalton Papali’i in action for the Steelers. Photo / Richard Spranger

Counties Manukau Rugby’s two All Blacks will get their first pre-season action of 2021 in today’s game of three halves involving the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders in Cambridge.

Prop Nepo Laulala and loose forward Dalton Papali’i have been named in the Blues side that will play 40 minutes against the Chiefs.

Etene Nanai-Seturo will start on the left wing for the Chiefs in the same game while loose forward Viliami Taulani is named on the bench in both the game against the Blues and the 40 minutes against the Crusaders.

“We have some time to make-up, so mostly we want to focus on some basics in our patterns both with the ball and without it,” said Blues coach Leon MacDonald. “We can build from there towards our first game in the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa competition which has come around very quickly.

“We will be looking for our processes and our basics and not so much on the score line.

“It will be a chance too for our All Blacks to get a taste of rugby, and for a fair number of our new and young players to experience the physicality and speed of Super Rugby.”