Rugby: Time for T as Blues seek backline flair

By WYNNE GRAY

Mr T is going home, but for the second successive season the Auckland Blues will begin their Super 12 rugby campaign without captain Robin Brooke.

Injuries have depleted the forward choices, while coach Gordon Hunter has pulled a surprise by picking Iliesa Tanivula in midfield to play against his former ACT Brumbies team-mates instead of Eroni Clarke.

Starting Friday's game with Tanivula is an intriguing opening gambit by Hunter, as Clarke and the now-departed Caleb Ralph would both have rated ahead of Tanivula as centres when the Blues were picked last year.

But the Fijian, who is known as Mr T and is a cousin of wing Joeli Vidiri, has impressed all the coaching staff in training and the trial games in Australia, while Clarke has yet to hit top condition.

"We are confident Mr T is the guy who is going to give us the edge and that Clarke will feature as an impact man when we elect to use him," explained Hunter.

For this away game in Canberra, lock Brooke, loose forward Dylan Mika and tighthead prop David Morgan were unavailable because of injury, while halfback Steve Devine and utility back To'o Vaega were also ruled out because of leg problems. With Brooke bypassing game one, the Blues captaincy has gone to prop Craig Dowd, while Charles Riechelmann will come in as lock to partner Troy Flavell.

Most of the injured are expected to recover shortly, but Mika's back problem is causing concern as he appears to have aggravated an injury which troubled him last year.

But a man with a great spring in his step has been Tanivula, the utility back who got his Super 12 break last season with the Brumbies before being contracted to Auckland and now the Blues.

In the off-season the 25-year-old shed 5kg with some serious training, was a bright star in trials and yesterday earned his opening reward. His mental dossier on the Brumbies' backline moves will also be invaluable.

"We are getting some silent secrets from Mr T," said Hunter.

Tanivula recalled his Super 12 preparation last season with the Brumbies where the backs spent several months going through their moves at walking pace until they were mistake-free.

"We only did a little bit of fitness work; the rest of the time was all about getting the moves right," he said. "They do a lot of moves down the blindside and it is no secret they work most of them round Gregan, Larkham and Kafer."

Tanivula, whose attack can be devastating, was confident his defence would stand up to the Brumbies' inquisitions.

"We are trying to encourage our players to be confident about their game because, if they are not thinking, ACT will hurt you," said Hunter. "They are a very innovative team who look after the ball well, while we have had scratchy pre-season work so our personal preparation for this game will be significant."

The form of rugby league convert Andrew Walker has forced Brumbies coach Eddie Jones to include him at fullback and push Joe Roff out to the wing.

Walker impressed with his dazzling running, and was then cleared of a suspected broken hand, during his team's 33-20 final trial win against the Highlanders.

Auckland Blues: Adrian Cashmore, Joeli Vidiri, Iliesa Tanivula, Doug Howlett, Craig Innes, Orene Ai'i, Mark Robinson, Xavier Rush, Justin Collins, Troy Flavell, Charles Riechelmann, Andrew Blowers, Craig Dowd (capt), Davin Heaps, Paul Thomson. Reserves: Ben Meyer, Walter Little, Eroni Clarke, Finau Maka, Leo Lafaiali'i, Nick White, Keven Mealamu.

ACT: Andrew Walker, Mark Bartholomeusz, Stirling Mortlock, Joe Roff, Rod Kafer, Steve Larkham, George Gregan, Jim Williams, Brett Robinson (captain), David Giffin, Justin Harrison, Owen Finnegan, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Reserves: Graeme Bond, James Holbeck, Travis Hall, Ipolito Fenukitau, Troy Jaques, Ben Darwin, Adam Freier.