Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has reverted to his successful season-opening combination for their Super Rugby match against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday.
Kirwan made several changes to his team in their home loss to the Bulls ahead of last weekend’s bye. But on Friday he returned to the lineup who started the campaign with surprise wins over the Hurricanes and Crusaders.
Chris Noakes returns at five-eighth, while winger George Moala, No.8 Peter Saili, lock Culum Retallick, hooker James Parsons and prop Tom McCartney are all back in the starting team.
“We’ve got this idea of making sure we continue to create a full squad,” Kirwan said.
“The loss certainly influenced what we do going forward so it’s back to the guys that have been proven for us.”
Former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric is named on the reserve bench and is poised to make his first appearance in more than a year after surgery on his neck.
After three games for the Blues development team, Kirwan said Boric was both physically and mentally ready to play against the Waratahs.
“We’ve picked him because he’s stopped mentally processing.
“He’s had those three development games and in the first game he was thinking about his neck and doing things that he might not normally do, but he’s progressively got better.”
Kirwan expected a fierce challenge from the Waratahs, who have lost three of their first four matches, including a one-point reversal at home to the Cheetahs last weekend.
“They’re under the pump, they’re desperate, they’ve got a coach (Michael Cheika) who’s saying ‘this is a war’ and they’ve got a good enough football team to beat anyone.
“So if we’re not ready for that sort of intensity then we’re going to lose. I reckon it’s a huge test for both teams.”
Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili, George Moala, Chris Noakes, Piri Weepu, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua, Ali Williams (capt), Culum Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Tom McCartney. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Angus Ta’avao, Anthony Boric, Brendon O’Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Baden Kerr, Jackson Willison