Blues hoping for an outside gap
Wed, 14 May 2008 10:26
Blues coach David Nucifora has kept with exactly the same team that defeated the Highlanders last week for Friday's crucial Super 14 clash with the Hurricanes.
"The team is performing well and we see no need for change," said Nucifora.
"We have stuck with the same forward pack for most of the year and they have produced some excellent results.
"We've been happy with our scrum and line-out in the last couple of weeks and its good to have continuity going into a big game," he said.
"We've been happy with the way the combination of Taniela Moa and Isa Nacewa has been working and will stick with that this week."
The Blues are still within touching distance of the play-offs, and a win over the Hurricanes could see them climb into the top four if the Sharks and Stormers lose their final round-robin matches.
A best-case scenario of a bonus-point win and losses to the two mentioned SA franchises, as well as the Waratahs, could yet see the Blues achieve a home semifinal.
Blues: 15 Nick Evans, 14 David Smith, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Isa Nacewa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Troy Flavell (captain), 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Nick White, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Justin Collins, 20 Danny Lee, 21 Isaia Toeava, 22 Ben Atiga.
Date: Friday, May 16
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
