Rugby: Blues take gamble with Woodcock

Blues prop Tony Woodcock (R) is an 80 per cent chance of playing against the Highlanders. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Faced with a hulking Highlanders front row for a crucial Super 14 rugby match on Friday, the Blues are gambling on All Black prop Tony Woodcock being fit to start the game.

Woodcock has not played since the fourth round, missing five matches, because of an inner ear infection which affected his balance.

However, Blues assistant coach Shane Howarth said today that Woodcock, bracketed with Tevita Mailau in the team named today, was an 80 per cent chance to take the field.

"He has looked good in training this week and we'll assess him tomorrow - he would be big for us but we've got to look after his welfare, so it's a matter of seeing how he pulls up tomorrow."

The Highlanders are injury free, and coach Glenn Moore is not expected to tweak a side that has won its last three matches.

The Blues, however, will not have All Black lock Ali Williams, out for at least another week with an Achilles tendon strain, and first five-eighth Tasesa Lavea, who lit up the backline last week in their resounding 36-12 win over the Lions.

Tighthead prop John Afoa suffered ankle ligament damage against the Lions and is unlikely to return to action for at least three weeks. Charlie Faumuina has been named to start in his place.

Others in the Blues' casualty ward include Benson Stanley, Justin Collins, Jamie Helleur and Onosa'i Auva'a.

With Chris Smylie's season ended by a hamstring tear last week, the Blues hope to welcome back dynamic halfback Taniela Moa who sat out last week's match pending a New Zealand Rugby Union misconduct hearing.

That hearing, over a bottle throwing incident, was to be held today and Moa has been bracketed with Grayson Hart.

Jimmy Gopperth will replace Lavea at No 10 but the rest of the backs - midfielders Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake, wings Rudi Wulf and Joe Rokocoko and fullback Paul Williams have kept their starting places.

If Woodcock is unable to take his place in the side, Howarth agreed the Blues will be faced with a towering problem from the Highlanders' front row where All Black Jamie Mackintosh and Clint Newland have been impressive.

"They have got a good front row - that's a strength of theirs and that's where they will come at us," Howarth said.

"We got to back Charlie and Tevita to be right up there - they have done very well (when called on) and we can't sulk or moan about it."

The forwards battle aside, Howarth felt that there was sting in the Highlanders backline this year.

"The Highlanders have been renowned for having good packs and this one is good but where I think they have improved vastly is in the backline - they've got a good young group who like having a go and we know we are in for a huge test on Friday."

Highlanders No 10 Matt Berquist was playing well while Daniel Bowden had found a good niche at 12, he said.

The Blues themselves were not satisfied with their performance last week.

"There were too many handling errors and 50-50 passes for my liking - it's something we have worked on this week.

"That aside, I thought the attack was very good but we can get better in certain areas.

"The thing about the Highlanders is they play hard for each other and we are in for a massive battle - we are under no illusions there.

"The physical contact area is going to be big, we have done work there but it's a strength of the Highlanders. We've just got to win that battle and it's not going to be easy."

Blues
Paul Williams, Joe Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Rudi Wulf, Jimmy Gopperth, Taniela Moa/Grayson Hart, Jerome Kaino, Josh Blackie, Chris Lowrey, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiau, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock/Tevita Mailau.

Reserves: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau/James Afoa, Jay Williams, Peter Saili, Grayson Hart, Michael Hobbs, Rene Ranger.

- NZPA