Blues coach Pat Lam wasted no time in drafting in his trio of new fathers – All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino, along with Taniela Moa – for their Super 14 Round Three match against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
Apart from the three new dads, a third All Black in prop Tony Woodcock, have also been named in the starting XV for the trip to Newlands, according to www.rugby365.com.
Rokocoko, Kaino and Moa arrived late in South Africa after being on hand for the birth of their first children in Auckland.
Rokocoko replaces the suspended Rene Ranger on the wing, Kaino comes in for Chris Lowrey at No.8 and Moa takes over from Chris Smylie at scrumhalf.
Tasesa Lavea starts at flyhalf in place of Jimmy Gopperth, who is dropped from the matchday 22.
Kurtis Haiu is bracketed with Lowrey at lock.
Justin Collins will make his 100th Super Rugby appearance
Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Paul Williams, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Josh Blackie, 6 Justin Collins, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu/Chris Lowrey, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Lowrey/Dean Budd, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Winston Stanley.
Date: Saturday, February 28
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman/JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Stormers better get their shit together or they are going to be copping a hiding.
@McLovin (Comment 1) : yes… that was my feeling as well
@robdylan (Comment 2) : and mine
I mean… Psshh… Stormers are going to KILL the blues.
@molly (Comment 4) : awe!
Hosja!!
On paper we should smash these pretenders. Only problem is some of our tight forwards think they belong in the damn backline…
Stormers by a few…
@wpw (Comment 7) : dude – that’s a strong Blues side on paper.
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
I think we have a better backline, looseforwards and locks.
Their front row is more powerful though.
I personally think Pat Lam pulled an “old SA team” approach on the Bulls match.He didn’t play his best, allowing some of them to go on paternity leave etc, on the basis that he decided they would not target the match for a win.
@Dive Pass (Comment 11) : I suspected the same..
Blues have played at Newlands 5 times and won 3.
These teams have met 11 times with the Blues winning 7 of those.
@wpw (Comment 10) : you’ve got to attack Lavea at flyhalf
@robdylan (Comment 15) :
Their inside center is also a ‘no namer’
@wpw (Comment 16) :
Just keep Bekker away from flyhalf…
Anyway- do you still think Deysel is a tad overrated?
@wpw (Comment 16) : So’s Nakalivuki