Coaches tinker for big match

By WYNNE GRAY

If it were not for rugby, Tony Koonwaiyou would like to be an Olympic sprinter. He may need all that speed tomorrow when he makes his Crusaders debut and marks the lethal Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

Koonwaiyou is a draft Auckland player turning out for the Crusaders, while the Blues have used the draft to turn regular Crusaders prop Greg Feek against his old team-mates.

Coaches Peter Sloane and Robbie Deans have made several selection tinkerings for the repeat of last year's Super 12 final.

But the one change anticipated by the Blues, the return of rejected World Cup five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens, has not occurred.

Instead Deans will again use Aaron Mauger as his pivot with Daniel Carter as goalkicker and midfield back.

As expected, outstanding flanker Richie McCaw returns while Koonwaiyou, the 20-year-old speedster, has been picked to mark the Blues Fijian flyer instead of Caucaunibuca's countryman Marika Vunibaka.

Blues tighthead prop Kees Meeuws failed a fitness test on a back strain and with his absence the Blues have an entirely new front row.

The other switch comes at fullback, where Mils Muliaina returns to claim his All Black berth in a move designed to shut down a Crusaders' kicking game.

That alteration left a vacancy at centre and meant a reserve place for one of the squad's international wings. This week it is Joe Rokocoko while Rico Gear will play at centre.

"This week we have eased the load on the boys," said Sloane. "We have had a tough week or two on the road and we need to be mentally right for this match."