Embattled Blues coach Sir John Kirwan is gambling on a five eighth who hasn’t played Super Rugby for five years to steer his team against defending champions NSW Waratahs on Saturday.
He’s called in Dan Bowden to replace Ihaia West as playmaker for his last-placed Blues who are desperate to turn around a miserable 0-5 season start which has brought calls for his sacking.
The 28-year-old Bowden is back from spells in the English premiership and Japanese club rugby, having previously played for the Highlanders and Crusaders from 2008-2010.
A foot injury delayed his start to the season but Kirwan believes he can get the job done at Allianz Stadium.
“He (Bowden) has been through it before so I just said to him, `Get out there and empty the tank’,” Kirwan said.
“It’s his experience that we’re looking for and that doesn’t leave you, so he’s pretty relaxed about it.”
The Blues’ predicament also means Kirwan has changed his plan of giving some of his Test players a breather this weekend as part of the directive to franchises to rest their All Blacks for at least two matches.
“We’re under a little bit of scoreboard pressure,” he said.
“We just need to get back on the winning track first and we’ll make decisions later down the track.”
The Blues, who are coming off a bye, have three other personnel changes and some positional switches from their starting 15 in the 30-23 loss to the Hurricanes two weeks ago.
George Moala will make his first start of the year at centre, with All Blacks flyer Charles Piutau moving to his customary role of fullback in place of Lolagi Visinia, who drops out of the match-day squad.
Skipper Jerome Kaino returns from concussion to No.8, which means Steven Luatua going to the blindside flank and Luke Braid to the reserves bench.
At lock, Hayden Triggs replaces the injured Josh Bekhuis.
Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, George Moala, Francis Saili, Melani Nanai, Dan Bowden, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino (capt), Brendon O’Connor, Steven Luatua, Patrick Tuipulotu, Hayden Triggs, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi/Sam Prattley, Angus Ta’avao, Culum Retallick, Luke Braid, Jamison Gibson-Park, Simon Hickey, Pita Ahki.
