Ma'a Nonu will start from the bench against the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images
Pat Lam has talked about wanting to bounce back from the embarrassment of last weekend's loss against the Crusaders but has named three of his All Blacks on the reserves bench to play the Highlanders on Saturday.
In a move which will make the task against the Highlanders that much harder, Ali Williams, in his 100th Super Rugby game, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu have been benched following the national team's training camp in Auckland.
Only prop Tony Woodcock has been named to start.
Keven Mealamu and Charlie Faumuina are the other Blues involved with the All Blacks but are unavailable due to calf injuries.
In all, Lam has made 13 changes to his squad to face the Highlanders compared with the side which narrowly lost to the southerners in Dunedin last month.
Some have been forced through injury, with the latest a bizarre hand injury suffered by wing George Moala, who last week cut a tendon on a pane of glass while playing indoors with his younger brother. He has had surgery and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
"He only got a little cut but unfortunately the cut was right on the tendon,'' Lam said. "So he had surgery to fix that. It's just another one of the bizarre, unfortunate things that have happened this year.''
Lam said he had little choice but to give Williams, Nonu and Weepu, who are all out of form but hugely experienced, a rest by naming them in the reserves.
"Those boys when they went straight from Christchurch to the camp they've had 10 days on the trot without even being home,'' he said. "It's still a 22-man game and they'll come off the bench. It's a chance to give them a breather.''
With midfielder Benson Stanley likely to miss the rest of the season with concussion after his head knock in the record 59-12 thrashing at the hands of the Crusaders last weekend, Francis Saili, a wider training group member, will make his starting debut at centre.
Alby Mathewson comes in for Weepu at halfback, with Filo Paulo, largely ineffective all season, in for Williams at lock alongside Liaki Moli.
James Parsons comes in for Tom McCartney at hooker.
"Tom is overdue a rest. Same with Ali and Ma'a and obviously they've just shown up today [from All Blacks camp]. We've put a bit of faith in the younger guys to get out there and then have the experience coming off the bench at the end of the game.''
No8 Peter Saili, back from a knee injury, has been bracketed with captain Luke Braid, with Luke also bracketed with brother Daniel at openside flanker.
Lam said Daniel had been knocked about in last weekend's defeat in Christchurch and he was hopeful the 31-year-old and Saili would come through training today [Thurs] and tomorrow.
Outside backs Rudi Wulf and Rene Ranger have failed to recover from injuries, with loose forward Chris Lowrey also unable to make his comeback from concussion. Hooker Mealamu remains out, but he trained lightly with the All Blacks this week and Lam was hopeful his regular captain could make his comeback next weekend against the Chiefs. He has already missed the last five games.
Lam said his side was aware of the enormity of the task against the Highlanders, who competed well against the large and physical Bulls forwards in the 16-11 victory in Dunedin.
"Regardless of where we are in the competition every guy wants to play Super Rugby and everyone wants to be out there on the stage. There's some guys there really looking forward to the opportunity. For us as a team we really want to bounce back from the embarrassment of last week and that's been the focus.''
Blues team to play Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 7.35pm:
Hadleigh Parkes, David Raikuna, Francis Saili, Michael Hobbs, Sherwin Stowers, Gareth Anscombe, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili/Luke Braid, Luke Braid (c)/Daniel Braid, Steve Luatua, Filo Paulo, Liaki Moli, Tevita Mailau, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Angus Ta'avao, Ali Williams, Daniel Braid/Peter Saili, Daniel Pryor, Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu, Lachie Munro.