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Sam Darry will make his Super Rugby debut for the Blues on Sunday in their home opener. The easy option for Sam Darry would have been to stay exactly where he was, in a familiar home city, surrounded by family and friends, immersed in a proven Crusaders rugby development system and just wait for his chances to eventually roll around. But, like the proverbial salmon swimming against the current, the 20-year-old Dunedin-born Cantabrian decided to take the less travelled route and jump off the famous red and black rugby production line to come north to seek opportunity. It is fair to say the e...

The Highlanders have dropped Mitch Hunt back to the bench for Sunday's game against the Blues

Leon MacDonald includes rookie lock Sam Darry as surprise starter to face Highlanders on Sunday.

Hannah Peters/Getty Images Patrick Tuipulotu and the Blues have big ambitions in 2021, but as always will have to get past the Crusaders first. Leon MacDonald gets them. A lot. You know the people, rushing up to him at the supermarket, or the café, or in the street, full of hope and excitement, proclaiming: “This is our year.” The Blues coach tends to smile and nod reassuringly. He loves the optimism as much as he treasures the support. Who is he to point out how tough that pathway is and how difficult the Crusaders are to budge from that throne.