Super Rugby Pacific: AJ Lam thriving on centre stage as Blues ride three-game win streak

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Midfielder AJ Lam has been in outstanding form for the Blues in his farewell season of Super Rugby Pacific.

In-form Blues centre AJ Lam has no regrets about his decision to join a worrying New Zealand rugby player exodus right when he appears to have found the form of his career with his beloved franchise.

Lam is back for a seventh straight start of this Super Rugby Pacific season at centre for the high-flying Blues against the Fijian Drua at Eden Park on Saturday night (7.05pm kickoff), assuming senior status in a starting lineup featuring a handful of changes from that which rolled the Waratahs 35-20 last Saturday night in Sydney.

With skipper Dalton Papali’i (back) and first-choice fullback Zarn Sullivan (concussion) both out injured, coach Vern Cotter has brought in fresh faces to add some energy to a side riding a three-game win streak, and sitting equal top of the standings (4-2, 20 points).

Payton Spencer, after his memorable debut off the bench last week, comes in to start at fullback, while Cole Forbes slots on to the right wing for rookie sensation Codemeru Vai (three tries in three starts) and Taufa Funaki gets the nod at halfback after a couple of influential turns off the bench. Both Vai and Fin Christie are assigned bench duty.

Up front Marcel Renata gets the starting assignment at tighthead prop and promising youngster Torian Barnes joins Malachi Wrampling and Anton Segner in the loose trio (Hoskins Sotutu remains out with a tender knee), while All Blacks lock Sam Darry takes over the captaincy in a sign of his growing influence.

Lam resumes his midfield partnership with returned veteran Pita Ahki in scintillating form. In Sydney he crossed for two outstanding tries in a game-changing turn that saw him run for 31 metres, beat 6 defenders, make a clean break and throw in an offload and try assist.

AJ Lam, with Caleb Clarke, has found a nice rhythm with a run of starts for the Blues in Super Rugby.

The 27-year-old has commentators raving about his play at centre and lamenting his decision to take up a three-year contract with Clermont in France right when he’s among the best No 13s in the New Zealand game. He joins a raft of experienced “second-tier” players heading offshore when they are still at the peak of their powers.

“I’m pretty happy I’ve made the decision,” Lam told The Post. “Now I can just focus on giving my best for the Blues and putting out the best performance I can. The outside noise is not really for me. I’m all about trying to be the best I can be.”

Lam said he had to “weigh up a lot of options” around his decision to head to France, but is not about to second-guess that call now. “I had a big talk with my family and we thought it was probably a good idea to move on,” he added.

“I come out every game to give my all for this city, and to the Blues. They gave me an opportunity when I was younger and the least I can do is put it in a better place when I leave. It’s a lot easier playing around world-class players like Beauden Barrett. You kind of just follow him around and get yourself into spaces to be available.”

Lam has long been a key cog in the Blues backline with his power, speed and ability to flit between wing and midfield, but this year a run of starts and extra responsibility has him delivering big time. A couple of extra kilos has also helped with the midfield collisions.

“I really enjoy being in midfield, and I’m getting a lot more comfortable in that position.” he added. “Now it’s just tweaking little things so I can become a world-class 12 or 13.”

Lam said the Blues took a lot from a victory in Sydney that was tougher than the final digits indicated. They had to soak up a lot of pressure through the first half, before finding an attacking rhythm after the break.

“We know we’ve got a lot to work on, as we saw from the first half. As a team we’re still improving, which is good, and we’re getting more connected and clearer on what we have to do.

“But we can’t get complacent. The Drua are a great side, and can flip a game on its head within a minute. We’re trying to stay on the whole time, and not give them anything. For us it’s about staying tight and focused, and go into that break off another good performance.”

Blues: Payton Spencer, Cole Forbes, AJ Lam, Pita Ahki, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Taufa Funaki; Malachi Wrampling, Anton Segner, Torian Barnes, Sam Darry (capt), Josh Beehre, Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: James Mullan, Mason Tupaea, Sam Matenga, Che Clark, Jed Melvin, Finlay Christie; Xavi Taele, Codemeru Vai.