Rugby: Blues centre Moala returns home

George Moala in action for the Blues last year. Photo / Greg Bowker

Blues centre George Moala has re-aggravated his knee injury in Cape Town and is on his way home to Auckland.

Moala, who was a late withdrawal from the Blues' team before their round one 23-18 loss to the Chiefs at North Harbour in the weekend, has been replaced by Melani Nanai.

The other big change for the Blues is the fact Charles Piutau will start at fullback against the Stormers at Newlands on Sunday morning after starting on the right wing last weekend.

Prop Charlie Faumuina has been bracketed with Angus Ta'avao and lock Patrick Tuipulotu bracketed with Hayden Triggs and Josh Bekhui. Brendon O'Connor, Luke Braid and Akira Ioane have been bracketed for the No7 jersey and Tevita Li and Lolagi Visinia for the left wing position.

Coach John Kirwan said Moala aggravated his medial ligament in an early training session, adding his reasoning around bracketing his two locks with All Black Tuipulotu was tactical.

"I thought the two locks played pretty well last week," he said. "In South Africa you can run out of juice late so we might tactically think about bringing some guys on late like we did last week with Luke and Charles and Paddy which will give us impact late and give us some petrol in the tank.

"We think Charles has a little bit more impact at 15," Kirwan said of Piutau. "He's come into the side a little bit late as the All Blacks do, but we feel he did well for us last week. We just need him to get the ball in his hands a little bit more this week. He's one of our leaders so we think at fullback he'll be a little bit more influential."

Blues team to play the Stormers at Newlands on Sunday, kick-off 4.05pm is: Charles Piutau, Ben Lam, Hamish Northcott, Francis Saili, Tevita Li/Lolagi Visinia, Ihaia West, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino (c), Brendon O'Connor/Luke Braid/Akira Ioane, Steven Luatua, Hayden Triggs/Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Bekhuis/Tuipulotu, Angus Ta'avao/Charles Piutau, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Sam Prattley, Charlie Faumuina, Angus Ta'avao, Patrick Tuipulotu/Triggs/Bekhuis, Braid/Iaone/O'Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Bowden, Visinia/Li.