Rugby: More injury blues rock Lam

Pat Lam. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The injury toll kept mounting for the Blues yesterday even after they finished their final training.

Flanker Justin Collins was named to resume Super 14 action tomorrow but complained of a headache after practice and, in consultation between team doctor Stephen Kara and coach Pat Lam, was withdrawn from the side to play the Brumbies in Canberra.

Collins missed last week's defeat because of concussion and his repeat defection was the latest in the list of casualties which have afflicted the Blues this season, especially in the loose forwards.

Collins, Chris Lowrey, Onosai Auva'a and Josh Blackie are all unavailable from the original loose forward choices, while Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Taniela Moa, Tasesa Lavea, Michael Hobbs and Benson Stanley are absent because of injury.

There may be more as Rene Ranger, Anthony Tuitavake and Jay Williams all have leg problems and will have to pass late fitness tests to start the match.

Lock Kurtis Haiu will delay his departure until today, because his partner is expecting their second child, and with that uncertainty alongside the injury issues, former Counties lock Andrew van der Heijden has been drafted into the travelling group.

"It is just another challenge," said Lam at his phlegmatic best.

"I was just looking back and looking at the teams we have been able to select during the year and probably the closest we got to getting everyone on the field was the [round three] Stormers game.

"We were still minus Ali [Williams] and Joe [Rokocoko] but particularly in the forward pack it has been a challenge. It affects the quality of your set-piece and obviously affects other areas of your game but you know, that is just the challenge we always face."

The focus tomorrow in Canberra wasall about victory. There was a mathematical chance the Blues could make the playoffs but this game was all about stopping a run of two defeats.

John Afoa's return at tighthead prop reunites the test front row for what will be a tough contest with the Brumbies pack.

BRUMBIES
A. Ashley-Cooper
Francis Fainifo
Tyrone Smith
Gene Fairbanks
Stirling Mortlock
Matt Toomua
Patrick Phibbs
Stephen Hoiles (c)
George Smith
Mitchell Chapman
Peter Kimlin
Ben Hand
Guy Shepherdson
Stephen Moore
Ben Alexander

BLUES
Rudi Wulf
Ranger/Williams
Tuitavake/Helleur
Isaia Toeava
Joe Rokocoko
Jimmy Gopperth
Chris Smylie
Jerome Kaino
Tom Chamberlain
Peter Saili
Haiu/van der Heijden
Jay Williams
John Afoa
K. Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock

Brumbies: To be advised

Blues: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Dean Budd, Andrew van der Heijden, Grayson Hart, Jamie Helleur/Winston Stanley, Paul Williams/Dave Thomas.