Super Rugby Aotearoa Big Match-Ups - Telea v Lam

The Blues are scheduled to take on the Hurricanes on 14 June in the second match-up of New Zealand’s brand new Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

The game offers some exciting individual contests, not least of which being two of Super Rugby’s best attacking wingers in Mark Telea (Blues) and Ben Lam (Hurricanes).

Lam fills the mould of the typical modern-day New Zealand winger; size of a forward with the speed of a track athlete. Weighing 105kg and standing 1.94m tall, the 28 year old has 46 Super Rugby caps and 16 All Black caps to his name.

Before Super Rugby was halted in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lam had scored 5 tries, executed 44 carries, gained 355 metres, made 8 clean breaks and beaten 18 defenders. In full flight, he will no doubt prove a handful for the Blues’ defence and creating scenarios in which he finds himself with space to gain momentum will be a top priority for the Hurricanes’ attack.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, fans will be treated to the exploits of a younger, smaller winger with sparkling attacking prowess. 23 year old Mark Telea (as yet, uncapped for the All Blacks) has put his hand up as stand-out performer in this year’s competition. Like Lam, he had also dotted down 5 times before the intermission, but a closer inspection of the other statistical categories shows his quality.

Telea’s 69 carries have yielded an overall gain of 559 metres. In addition to this, he has pulled off 14 clean breaks and, with his educated footwork, has beaten a massive 54 defenders. At 1.86m and 94kg, he is not classed as a small man, yet, obviously, does not enjoy the same physical power as his opponent, Lam. However, what he may lack in brawn, he more than makes up for finely tuned skill.

With competition for spots in the All Black back-three as hot as ever, it is guaranteed that both players will be looking to produce stellar efforts in what is hoped to be a good displaying of running rugby.