KEY POINTS:
Reconditioned All Black Joe Rokocoko remains on the unwanted list for the Blues with coach David Nucifora also refusing to release the wing from the squad to play some club rugby.
"Anything can happen at the last minute, illness or injury could occur and we can't afford to
have Joe away from the team. He contributes a lot even when he is outside the 22," Nucifora explained.
"He helps with our preparation and is doing a really good job. It is not an option for us not to have him."
Rokocoko is not required for tomorrow night's defining last pool match with the Force in Perth while fellow reconditioned All Black forwards Keven Mealamu and Ali Williams will be asked for impact from the bench in a Blues side which shows three changes from that which lost to the Bulls.
Repaired midfield back Luke McAlister moves in for the injured Sam Tuitupou, Derren Witcombe starts at hooker while Nick Williams is preferred at No 8 which means a shift to blindside flanker for Jerome Kaino in place of Angus Macdonald.
Force coach John Mitchell has sifted his talent too, bringing the mercurial Matt Giteau into first five-eighths and picking mobile loose forwards Luke Doherty and Luke Pocoko for his side's faint shot at making the playoffs.
Rokocoko's continued rejection will remain the strongest discussion topic before the game with the All Black panel clearly worried about his lack of matchplay as the international season approaches. When he was ready to play, Rokocoko's return was delayed because he sprained his ankle in a trial.
He got the last quarter as a substitute against the Cheetahs, 15 minutes against the Sharks and a full game against the Stormers before he was dropped for the Bulls and Force matches. That sketchy playing record did not impress All Black coach Graham Henry.
"We are disappointed Joe is not playing," he said yesterday, "because he is the sort of player who needs three or four games under his belt before he hits his straps. He is a confidence player and he needs games and time on the field."
Nucifora understood the frustration but said other wings in the squad had better form.
"There is competition in the squad and we have got to be true to the players by picking the guys on form. Rudi [Wulf] has been very consistent and lifted his game even more when Joe was available and was the player of the day last week.
"Doug [Howlett] has been our most consistent performer in the back three while Anthony [Tuitavake] is needed as centre cover in the reserves and that puts the squeeze on Joe."
Henry did not have any issue with Mealamu and Williams on the bench. Mealamu has started three games, Williams two and prop Tony Woodcock six since their return from the three months conditioning programme with the other All Blacks.
"I thought Ali and Keven both played particularly well last week and I am not concerned about them at all. When Ali came on I thought he made a huge difference and Keven is playing pretty well too."
Rokocoko and his cousin Sitiveni Sivivatu were the only wings in the protected 22 and Rokocoko's absence is similar to the predicament he faced in 2005 when he missed selection for the Lions series. He was nursed back to form with the sevens side and the Junior All Blacks.
He has scored 35 tries in 39 tests for the All Blacks since his debut in 2003.
WESTERN FORCE V BLUES
Subiaco Oval, 11.05pm tomorrow
WESTERN FORCE:
15. Drew Mitchell
14. Scott Staniforth
13. Ryan Cross
12. Junior Pelesasa
11. Digby Ioane
10. Matt Giteau
9. Matt Henjak
8. Scott Fava
7. David Pocock
6. Luke Doherty
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
4. Rudi Vedelago
3. Troy Takiari
2. Tai McIsaac
1. Gareth Hardy
Reserves: Luke Holmes, AJ Whalley, David Pusey/Matt Hodgson, Richard Brown, Chris O'Young, James Hilgendorf, Haig Sare.
BLUES:
15.George Pisi
14. Doug Howlett
13. Isaia Toeava
12. Luke McAlister
11. Rudi Wulf
10. Isa Nacewa
9. Steve Devine
8. Nick Williams
7. Daniel Braid
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Troy Flavell (c)
4. Greg Rawlinson
3. John Afoa
2. Derren Witcombe
1. Tony Woodcock
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Nick White, Ali Williams, Justin Collins, Taniela Moa, Ben Atiga, Anthony Tuitavake.
Blues must wait to learn fate
The Blues play the Force tomorrow but will not know their Super 14 fate until Sunday.
They have to wait until the last of the 91 pool games - the Bulls' home game against the Reds in Pretoria - before they know whether they have to return to South Africa, are involved in a semifinal in New Zealand or their season is over.
With a day before that verdict, the Blues have decided to fly from Perth to Sydney where they can find better connections and larger aircraft for their next destination.
"It is easier to get flights out of Sydney to either Jo'burg or Auckland," coach David Nucifora said. "We have explored all the travel options for wherever we might end up and, while we might spend a bit longer in planes, going to Sydney on Saturday seems our best option."
