Rene makes return

Wellsford's Rene Ranger was stoked to get a game of rugby under his belt for the Blues against the Hurricanes on Friday after an injury-interrupted build-up to the season.
Although the glittering prize of the Web Ellis Trophy is stuck in the back of the All Black's mind, his focus now is getting back to full speed on the wing for the Blues.
"I'm just keen to play some footy, I haven't played in a while, so I want to make it a good year for the Blues - we've got a pretty good squad and we'll give it a 100 per cent so anything's possible," he said after the game.
The Blues won 33-22 after outclassing the Hurricanes with their top line-up in the first half. They outscored the Hurricanes four tries to two in the first half and continued to lead comfortably until two late second-half tries to speedster Julian Savea narrowed the gap for the Hurricanes.
"It looked as though they used a lot of their A squad in the second half so we had the advantage early and we used it well by holding onto the ball and finding holes in their defence," Ranger said.
"It was good to get out there and play, although there weren't many opportunities for me today - the ball seemed to go to the other wing - maybe because I was too busy chasing the kicks."
The winger was kept busy covering the long touch finders that Stephen Brett kept on producing. It was a taxing duty in the evening heat at Kerikeri on Friday but at least Ranger finished the game wanting more.
He had his share of injuries last season and hopes he has seen the last of the physio room for some time after playing much of last season with a heavily strapped knee before suffering a minor hamstring tear during the ITM Cup.
He thought his injury worries were over after a relaxing break in Rarotonga before Christmas but after resuming training for the Super 15 season, he tore the other hamstring, limiting his build-up time.
"I've been trying to recover in time but this was my first game since the end of last season - the knee's all good now and I'm totally injury free now so I'm looking forward to getting some extra game time next week," he said.
Like many of the first pick players, Ranger was substituted at half-time, giving the second-string players a chance to get game time and protecting the team's stars - like another All Black returning from injury, Ali Williams.
With an extended Super 15 season this year - it runs for 19 weeks in all - mounting injury tolls will remain a key concern for the teams' coaches.