Rugby: Injuries hamper Blues' first match of season

Blues Coach John Kirwan. Photo / Dean Purcell

New season, same old problems for Blues coach John Kirwan, who must consider a delicate juggling act with his loose forwards ahead of the first competition game against the Chiefs.

With Luke Braid already a doubtful starter for Saturday's match against Dave Rennie's men at North Harbour as he recovers from surgery on his shoulders over the break, Blake Gibson has compounded Kirwan's issues after cracking his jaw in last Friday's trial against the Hurricanes.

Gibson will be out for four weeks which complicates matters for Kirwan, who has to limit skipper Jerome Kaino's game time in the first three rounds on the orders of the All Blacks' coaches. Kirwan said yesterday that all of the top All Blacks who were playing from the start - including Richie McCaw at the Crusaders - could play no more than 60 minutes in any of the first three matches.

Kaino, who was nursing a sore foot over the break but is fully recovered now, will likely welcome the directive from above given his last game was on November 22 when he started for the All Blacks against Wales in Cardiff.

Kirwan will make a decision today on whether Braid is capable of sitting on the bench as cover for Kaino, who will play at No8, and flankers Steven Luatua and Brendon O'Connor.

"It's not looking too likely, but he will definitely be available in week two," Kirwan said of Braid. His other options are Akira Ioane, the brother of new Sevens standout Rieko, who impressed Kirwan against the Hurricanes, and Joe Edwards, who did well to extricate himself from the defence and provide the assist for Ben Lam's 50m try at North Harbour's QBE Stadium.

One positive among the loose forwards is Luatua's leadership. Dropped from the All Blacks last year, Luatua captained the Blues in the two preseason matches and Kirwan was happy with the result. The 22-year-old, who can also cover lock, has a big year ahead of him.

There is precious little other good news for the Blues apart from the competition at halfback between Jimmy Cowan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Bryn Hall and the form of midfielders Francis Saili and Hamish Northcott and outside backs Lam, Tevita Li and Lolagi Visinia.

George Moala, who scored the Blues' opening try against the Hurricanes, has strained a medial ligament in his knee and is in doubt for the Chiefs match.

Dan Bowden, who Kirwan brought back from Japan as an option for first-five or second-five, will test his damaged foot ligament by trying to run today. He will probably travel to South Africa for the matches against the Stormers and Cheetahs.

Prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi has cracked a bone in his hand, but has a special guard and is likely to be available to play the Chiefs.

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