All Blacks Zac Guildford and Israel Dagg will play for the Hawke's Bay Magpies in tonight's ITM Cup clash against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua.
Magpies co-coach Peter Russell was told by All Blacks coach Graham Henry on Thursday night Guildford could play. He will start and Dagg will come off
the bench.
"It's exciting. Should the pair make the All Blacks as planned, this is likely to be the only game they play for us, and what better game ... the Battle of the Bays," said Russell.
Guildford's availability has caused a wing reshuffle. Richard Buckman moves from the left wing to his more fancied right wing, forcing Gillies Kaka out of the 23, and Guildford will start on his favourite left wing. Dagg and Guildford will travel to South Africa tomorrow to link up with the All Blacks who fly out today.
Magpies halfback Kahn Fotuali'i is battling a flu bug, keeping his fingers crossed on the prospect of filtering it out of his system before the game kicks off.
Dressed warmly, the Samoan international was reduced to a mere spectator as coaches Peter Russell and Tom Coventry put the Magpies through the spin-dry cycle during a training session on Thursday at Park Island, Napier.
Like his teammates, Fotuali'i isn't lacking motivation, with a vivid recollection of the BOP drubbing last winter.
