KEY POINTS:
Loosehead prop Tony Woodcock will become the first of the Blues' reconditioned All Blacks to get a Super 14 rugby start this year.
Woodcock was named today by coach David Nucifora in the starting 15 to play the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday night.
Two
others from the All Blacks reconditioning squad, hooker Keven Mealamu and lock Ali Williams, are on the reserves bench.
Winger Joe Rokocoko, another re-conditioned All Black, will play club rugby this weekend.
It continues the table-topping Blues' different approach from other New Zealand Super 14 franchises, most of which have rushed their All Blacks back into action.
Woodcock replaces Chris Heard in the starting 15, but Nucifora said his inclusion was partly influenced by the injury to Saimone Taumoepeau, who played loosehead prop earlier this season.
"Saimone hasn't overcome his calf injury, and we think the Chiefs' game will be a tough scrummaging one so to have a player of Tony's ability to come in is tremendous," Nucifora said.
"He played well in his club rugby game last week and he should be getting used to contact games after that."
Nucifora said Mealamu, who got game time off the bench last week against the Waratahs, and Williams both had important parts to play.
He said Williams had tough competition not only from current locks Greg Rawlinson and captain Troy Flavell but also Anthony Boric, who had played a part in most matches off the bench.
Mealamu's continuation on the bench had nothing to do with him suffering a stomach bug this week which forced him, Flavell and Luke McAlister to miss some training, Nucifora said.
"They're all over that now. Keven will still be important from the bench -- it's a 22-man game."
Nucifora said Rokocoko did not play club football last week and still needed the extra match time before he was ready for Super 14.
"He's fit but he's only had 10 minutes of match time this year before he was injured in the warm-up game so the club match will do him good."
In other changes, Ben Atiga replaces George Pisi at fullback, David Gibson will start at halfback instead of Steve Devine, who goes to the bench, and blindside flanker Angus Macdonald makes way for Nick Williams, who comes into No 8, with Jerome Kaino switching to blindside flanker.
Utility back Anthony Tuitavake returns from injury to the reserves bench, while hard-hitting midfielder Sam Tuitupou is preferred on the bench to first-five eighth David Holwell.
The Chiefs team is due to be named at 7pm tonight.
Blues: Ben Atiga, Doug Howlett, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Rudi Wulf, Isa Nacewa, David Gibson, Nick Williams, Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Greg Rawlinson, Troy Flavell (captain), John Afoa, Derren Witcombe, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Nick White, Ali Williams, Justin Collins, Steve Devine, Sam Tuitupou, Anthony Tuitavake.
- NZPA
