Rugby: Youngster to kick despite presence of Mehrtens

Young fullback Ben Blair will have the goalkicking responsibilities for the Canterbury rugby team in their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow.

Canterbury coach Robbie Deans confirmed yesterday that 21-year-old Blair would be the No 1 goalkicker, even though Andrew Mehrtens, the All Blacks' most prolific points scorer in test rugby, will be on the field at first five-eighths.

An adductor muscle injury has limited Mehrtens' goalkicking practice in recent weeks and Blair, while not always in the Canterbury starting line-up, has taken over the kicking duties when coming on as a replacement or substitute.

The ankle injury to fullback Leon MacDonald against Southland last Saturday has cost him his place in the Canterbury team and given Blair his chance in the starting XV.

Deans said that while Mehrtens was "as good as gold and starting to fizz" for the shield-NPC match, he and forwards coach Steve Hansen had decided to continue with Blair as the goalkicker.

Blair, who scored 28 points against Southland after replacing MacDonald, has had 35 goal attempts in this year's NPC campaign and slotted 26, many of them from wide angles.

All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall passed a fitness test at Canterbury's final training run yesterday and returns to the team after missing the matches against Taranaki and Southland because of a hamstring niggle.

The Canterbury team was as expected, with Marshall replacing Ben Hurst and Blair coming in for the injured MacDonald the only changes to the side who warmed up for the shield challenge by beating Southland 71-8.

In the reserves, All Blacks prop Greg Feek, now that he has recovered from an ankle operation, replaces Con Barrell, who has impressed for Canterbury when coming on as a substitute.

"That wasn't easy and I have no doubt that Con will have further involvement in our campaign," Deans said.

"Feeky's done really well with his rehab and he has disciplined himself well and got a fair amount of game time under his belt now."

Although Barrell covered both sides of the scrum, Deans said both Feek, for Canterbury B, and starting loosehead prop Dave Hewett had been gaining experience at tighthead.

Deans said the final training session "went very well" and everyone came through it unscathed.

A special "honesty" team meeting this week was necessary for the Wellington team, says the side's most-capped forward, Inoke Afeaki.

The meeting, called after Saturday's woeful 7-24 loss against North Harbour, was a no-holds-barred team discussion on tactics, approach and effort, he said. It led to changes in training systems the next day and to a greater effort ahead of Sunday's key match with Counties Manukau at Pukekohe.

North Harbour and Australian prop Rod Moore will be available to play for the Auckland Blues next season if they want him.

North Harbour co-coach Alan Pollock said yesterday that the 28-year-old, who has been disregarded by Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen since last year's World Cup, was prepared to stay here if wanted.

"Rod said he is available to the Blues if they want him for the Super 12 and are prepared to approach and discuss terms with him," Pollock said.

"And when you look at the lack of depth at tighthead in this country, plus he is a test player for Australia, it would be criminal if the Blues selectors did not get in touch with him straight away."

Moore will start against Auckland tonight.

- NZPA