Acid on Blues pack to tame Highlanders

The Blues pack are on notice. Coach David Nucifora has challenged his forwards to repair a clumsy opening Super 14 defeat with a win tomorrow against the Highlanders.

Nucifora was part tactician, selector, strategist and motivator as he spoke about the demands of the second round away clash at Carisbrook. The Blues won at that venue last season when the forwards fired.

"We aim to do that again. If you don't take on another team at their strength you are going to lose," he said. "We have to take them head-on in the forwards and I have every confidence we can do that."

Nucifora has given his pack the chance to redress their mixed performance in the 37-19 loss to the Hurricanes. The only change is in the loose forwards where Angus Macdonald's hamstring injury means Nick Williams switching to No 8 and Justin Collins coming on to the blindside.

The forwards' inability to deliver decent set piece possession was the coach's greatest gripe about their second half collapse against the Hurricanes. That set-piece failure had a cumulative effect.

"We really didn't get across the advantage line, we did not get any field position and everything seemed to snowball for us so we have put a fair bit of work into that," Nucifora said.

With his impish sense of humour, Nucifora claimed the Blues' second-half meltdown meant the Highlanders had few clues about how the visitors would play tomorrow at Carisbrook.

Nucifora has put the acid on his pack to defuse the Highlanders' core forward power, a challenge which should make for an absorbing duel especially with both All Black hookers - Keven Mealamu and Anton Oliver - captaining their teams.

The Blues scrum had not adapted to the Hurricanes' wheeling tactics even though they felt referee Bryce Lawrence ignored some illegalities.

"I was disappointed when we stopped getting on the front foot, when we stopped fighting hard enough to get our ascendancy back," Nucifora said.

"We let the game unfold in front of us. We did not dig in enough to get hold of the game and I have spoken about that."

The Blues, Nucifora said, were not going to be seduced by thoughts they could just send the ball wide and win. That type of thinking had seen too many sides founder at Carisbrook.

Two changes come in the backline with Steve Devine picked to start the match although he and John Senio would share the halfback duties. Devine was dazed in a heavy tackle from Jerry Collins last week but was fully cleared by the medical staff.

In midfield, the explosive Anthony Tuitavake has replaced the injured Ben Atiga in what should be a lively meeting with his teammates from last season.

Highlanders coach Greg Cooper has made two alterations choosing loosehead prop Nick White to meet his old Blues mates after Clarke Dermody failed a fitness test.

There is also a switch at halfback where Chris Smylie will start ahead of All Black tourist Jimmy Cowan. * Springbok wing Ashwin Willemse is back in the Cats line-up for Saturday morning's game against the Chiefs in Johannesburg.

In a backline reshuffle, Willemse and Jaque Fourie will be on the wings with Grant Esterhuizen coming in at centre, first round wings Jorrie Muller and Wylie Human getting the boot from coach Frans Ludeke after the lacklustre 23-12 loss to the Stormers in round one.

The more mobile Daniel Muller replaces Marius Hurter at tighthead prop and lock Willem Stoltz comes into the starting XV for Trevor Hall.

Springbok hooker Lukas van Biljon is battling a knee injury and has been bracketed with Delarey du Preez.

The Chiefs team is being named today.

HIGHLANDERS V BLUES
* Dunedin, 7.35pm tomorrow

Highlanders

Ben Blair
Vilimoni Delasau
Neil Brew
Seilala Mapusua
Roy Kinikinilau
Nick Evans
Chris Smylie
Craig Newby
Josh Blackie
Hoani MacDonald
James Ryan
Tom Donnelly
Carl Hayman
Anton Oliver (c)
Nick White

Blues

Isa Nacewa
Doug Howlett
A. Tuitavake
Luke McAlister
Joe Rokocoko
Tasesa Lavea
Steve Devine
Nick Williams
Daniel Braid
Justin Collins
Ali Williams
Greg Rawlinson
John Afoa
K. Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock

Highlanders: Jason Macdonald, Chris King, Filipo Levi, Tim Boys, Jimmy Cowan, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui.

Blues: Tim Dow, Saimone Taumoepeau, Kurtis Haiu, Anthony Boric, John Senio, Rua Tipoki, Vili Waqaseduadua.