RUGBY - Murray gets NZ Maori chance

A year of frustration has finally reaped some reward for Northland rugby prop Bronson Murray after he was named to start for the New Zealand Maori in a Pacific Nations clash with Samoa in Hamilton tomorrow.
Head coach Donny Stevenson has made 10 changes to the starting line-up that defeated Fiji in a quagmire at Lautoka last weekend.
Murray's selection looms as a litmus test for the 26-year-old - an opportunity to prove his ability as a cornerstone prop after he was left a frustrated spectator for all but six minutes of the entire Blues Super 14 campaign this year.
But he has two significant backers. Stevenson reckons Murray is set for a big game after watching him make a telling impact off the bench against Fiji. His Northland coach, former All Blacks centre Bruce Robertson, can't wait for Murray to get a taste of international rugby.
"That six minutes for the Blues did not give him any opportunity to push for the Blues. We decided that if he was on the bench we should show a bit of faith in him and give him a decent crack at it," Stevenson said.
"I think that showed that all he needed was an opportunity and perhaps that the Blues undervalued him," he said.
Robertson said Murray was figuring large in the Northland plans for the season and was just glad his tighthead kingpin was going to experience the white-hot atmosphere of international rugby.
"The more games he plays the better he is going to be. Hopefully Bronson is going to be the mainstay of our (Northland) scrum. Well, revise that, not hopefully - he will be the mainstay," Robertson said.
First five-eighth Stephen Brett and flanker Daniel Braid have both been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after picking up leg injuries. Callum Bruce, who started the opening game against Tonga, takes over at pivot while Tanerau Latimer replaces Braid on the openside flank.
In other changes to the pack, props Keith Cameron, Murray and hooker Hikawera Elliott are restored to the front row while Ross Filipo starts at lock in place of Issac Ross.
Former All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu returns in place of Chris Smylie while Shannon Paku replaces Glen Horton on the right wing.
Braid's replacement Scott Waldrom has been named on the bench.
Samoa are seeking their first win after losing to Fiji 17-34 in round one and Australia 15-20 last weekend.
New Zealand Maori are unbeaten so far.