Rugby: Moa accepts decision to sit on sidelines

Tasesa Lavea has recovered from a hamstring injury and will pilot the Blues against the Lions at Eden Park. Photo / Getty Images

The decision to stand down halfback Taniela Moa pending a hearing into an allegation he threw a bottle that hit a woman in the face at a rugby club was an "appropriate" response, Blues coach Pat Lam said.

Moa, who wasn't at training yesterday and will miss tomorrow night's match against the Lions at Eden Park, faces a New Zealand Rugby Union misconduct hearing next week.

Lam said Moa, the Blues and the NZRU had come to a mutual agreement that the halfback would be stood down pending the outcome of the hearing.

"[Moa] agrees and [the NZRU] agrees, that's pretty much it really."

An NZRU statement said Moa had accepted his immediate fate.

"Taniela and the Blues management have come to an agreement whereby he will be stood down for this Friday's match," NZRU general manager professional rugby Neil Sorensen said.

"He has accepted that, given the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for him to be playing while he is still going through the misconduct process."

Moa's contract includes potential penalties ranging from a simple warning to termination, although the NZRU has tended towards leniency in dealing with recent alcohol-induced transgressions from the likes of All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles.

Sorenson said Moa's absence from the match would be taken into account when any penalty is applied, raising the prospect he could be reinstated for next week's match against the Highlanders if the suspension is deemed a sufficient punishment.

The loss of their first-choice halfback is the last thing the Blues need ahead of a must-win match but the players had responded well to the situation, Lam said.

"The attitude has been superb. We know that we are in finals' rugby really. We have got to play well and there has been a real determination. But at the end of the day we have got to put it out on the park."

Moa will be replaced by Chris Smylie in one of a raft of positional and personnel changes to the side that lost to the Waratahs in round seven.

Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake swap shirts at inside and outside centre, while Tasesa Lavea is back at first five-eighths after recovering from a hamstring injury and Rudi Wulf makes his first appearance of the campaign on the wing.

Josh Blackie returns at openside flanker in place of Onosa'i Auva'a, who is out for the season with a stress fracture to his shin.

All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko, who is battling a minor hamstring niggle, has been bracketed with Rene Ranger.

Rokocoko has been a subdued figure this season and Lam admitted he was hoping to get more out of one of his key game-breakers.

"The acid is on Joe. He is the first to admit that he wants to get better and he is working towards that. We know what he can do and know the sort of player that he is. And he, more than anyone else, wants to play well in the Blues jersey. Hopefully that is going to start this weekend."

Having already played at fullback and centre, Toeava has now been tasked with filling the second five-eighths jersey, a problem area for the Blues since first-choice Benson Stanley was ruled out for the season.

Having shipped 223 points at an average of 31 a game, the Blues have the worst defensive record in the competition. And with the Lions' inside backs having exposed their Chiefs opposites in Hamilton last weekend, Lam will be particularly aware of the need to plug the inside channels.

"With Ses, Ants and Ice there we have got three really good defenders and they know each other really well so will be able to work as a team there."

Toeava's shift in a spot would also help the attack, Lam said.

"It just gives us lots more options with our backline. He is probably the best passer in the team and he has got the kicking game. It enables him to get his hands on the ball more."

There was some positive news on the injury front, with All Blacks Tony woodcock and Ali Williams rated a chance of returning next week.