Recently capped All Black winger Mark Telea started his 2023 campaign in emphatic fashion producing a starring performance in the Blues 60-20 demolition over the Highlanders.
After receiving a call-up last November on the All Blacks end of year tour with Will Jordan out injured, Telea scored two tries on debut at Murrayfield against Scotland.
In his first outing of Super Rugby Pacific he continued that hot streak, the Blues winger ran riot over the hapless Highlanders clocking up 202 running metres on 13 carries whilst beating 13 defenders.
Telea made four clean breaks, scoring two tries whilst assisting on two more for the Blues in the eight try rout. Statiscally, it was one of the all time Super Rugby performances.
Praise for Telea flowed in from media and fans alike with claims he is ‘the best winger in New Zealand’ and is sure pick for the World Cup squad later this year.
Comparisons were made to the playstation game Jonah Lomu Rugby after looking unstoppable in Dunedin.
Mark Telea gets the Blues first for 2023 👏
? Highlanders v Blues, LIVE NOW. Every Match. Ad-free. Live & On Demand on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport.#StanSportAU #SuperRugbyPacific #HIGvBLU pic.twitter.com/l7pQOnpHXc
— Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) February 25, 2023
In a position that’s wide open for the All Blacks this year, Mark Telea’s just made one heck of a statement #HIGvBLU
— Ollie Ritchie (@OllieRitchie1) February 25, 2023
Four Super Rugby Pacific player stocks on the rise from #HIGvBLU:
– Mark Telea
– M.E. Telea
– Telea, Mark
– Mark Evander Telea https://t.co/lgBuUsOvom— Christopher Reive (@ChrisReive) February 25, 2023
Mark Telea is the best wing in the country right now.
By some way. #HIGvBLU
— Ryan Nixon (@NewYorkNixon) February 25, 2023
Mark Telea putting on a clinic. Literally one of the top SR performances by a winger in history! #HIGvBLU
— Nelson Dale (@Nelsonhdale) February 25, 2023
Mark Telea is playing this game like Jonah Lomu rugby….on easy mode
— Lance KT (@lkerrtaylor) February 25, 2023
All Blacks have to use Mark Telea at the world cup, absolutely electric wild card, what they lacked last time.
— CJ (@CjSonOfAnarchy) February 25, 2023
Blues simply ruthless on attack and defence. Mark Telea fantastic with the ball. Early days
— Glenn M SMITH (@GlennMSMITH1) February 25, 2023
The Blues No 14 had the first try of the night when he finished a one-on-one with Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava, reaching out to place the ball down after a low tackle.
Telea nearly had his second after the Blues launched a counter-attack from an errant Highlanders’ pass following a long break by Finlay Christie. Beauden Barrett finished the movement after Telea managed to find an offload.
The Blues right edge combination then combined to produce a scintillating piece of play, with All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane linking with Telea before receiving the return ball to coast away untouched.
