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How convenient. The punchline on a television advertisement applies to the Blues who welcome back test lock Ali Williams as his international colleague Anthony Boric goes on injury leave.
Williams will front for his first Super 14 appearance this season when he returns to the Blues side who host the
unbeaten Sharks on Saturday at Eden Park.
The All Black lock suffered back trouble late last year and the problem recurred shortly before the squad left for their offshore series start in Australia and South Africa. Williams' official return to the Blues after a year with the Crusaders was put on hold.
Coach Pat Lam had suggested his recovery could be anywhere between five days and five weeks.
It has come at an opportune time because the Blues returned from South Africa with their other test lock Boric out of action for a number of weeks because of a fractured elbow.
Boric hyper-extended his elbow during the Blues' latest triumph against the Stormers.
Others on the unavailable list for coach Pat Lam when he reveals his side today are first five eighths Tasesa Lavea and wing Rene Ranger. Lavea will be out for several weeks with a hamstring strain while Ranger is still recovering from a blow to his eye-socket during the side's loss to the Bulls.
When Lavea was hurt last week, Michael Hobbs produced a strong performance from the bench which suggested he might be asked to start this week's match.
At the start of the season, Lam promised his senior pivots Lavea and Jimmy Gopperth would get similar chances and if that rotation continues this weekend then Gopperth will get his chance to lead the line with Hobbs to come from the bench again.
"Michael [Hobbs] is fitting in well to the environment, he is a good student who is learning a lot from Sess and Jimmy. He has been outstanding on his analysis, he is learning well and putting in a good challenge," the coach said.
Lam said he needed to make a final check on his side's health and fitness for their third straight match against a South African side.
"I have been struggling and I can only imagine what the players are like," he said. "There was a large physical toll in the last game, lots of battered and bruised bodies on the plane coming home.
"There can always be lots of excuses but this is a great challenge, it is exciting that we are back at Eden Park against the top team."
Lam noted the Sharks had struggled in their first match in New Zealand but their class had shown through for large chunks of their dogged win against the Chiefs. With Springboks like John Smit, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn and JP Pietersen, the Sharks have quality players throughout their side.
"But our spirits are high and to come back from our trip with 10 competition points is a very pleasing way to start the competition," Lam said.
