The Blues today made three changes to their starting 15 for their Super 14 rugby match against the Queensland Reds on Saturday night.
Player rotation is the reason for two of them, with Steve Devine coming in for David Gibson at halfback and Justin Collins replacing Angus Macdonald
at blindside flanker.
Both Devine and Collins are having their first starts of the campaign, having come off the bench in previous matches.
Gibson and Macdonald have been included among the reserves.
However, fullback George Pisi has paid for lapses in concentration in the 23-22 loss to the Hurricanes last weekend by being dropped from the 22-strong squad.
Pisi's replacement in the No 15 jersey is Ben Atiga.
Coach David Nucifora said both Gibson and Macdonald had shown good form over the opening three weeks.
"But we need to start giving the other guys more of the workload," he said.
"With George, he has had some good performances, but he's aware he needs to concentrate for 80 minutes and get some of the small errors out of his game that cropped up last week."
Blues:
Ben Atiga, Doug Howlett, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Anthony Tuitavake, Isa Nacewa, Steve Devine, Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid, Justin Collins, Troy Flavell (captain), Greg Rawlinson, John Afoa, Derren Witcombe, Saimone Taumoepeau.
Reserves - Chris Heard, Nick White, Anthony Boric, Angus Macdonald, David Gibson, Sam Tuitupou, Rudi Wulf.
The Queensland Reds team named today:
Forwards: Ole Avei, Rodney Blake, Mitchell Chapman, Ben Coutts, David Croft, Sean Hardman, Herman Hunt, James Horwill, Tom McVerry, Ed O'Donoghue, John Roe (captain), Cam Treloar
Backs: Berrick Barnes, Caleb Brown, Nic Berry, Quade Cooper, Charlie Fetoai, Will Genia, Peter Hynes, Clinton Schifcofske, Ben Tune, Brando Vaalu, Henari Veratau.
- NZPA
