Blues captain Troy Flavell has made a full recovery from injury to lead the side in their opening Super 14 match against the Chiefs.
Captain passed fit to tackle the Chiefs
Blues captain Troy Flavell has made a full recovery from injury to lead the side in their opening Super 14 match against the Chiefs in Auckland on Saturday. Flavell missed out on his team's final pre-season outing - a 21-42 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin - because of a foot injury. It was initially feared the veteran lock would also miss the first month of the tournament, including the side's trip to South Africa. Already without two All Black locks from last year - Ali Williams (now at the Crusaders) and Greg Rawlinson (at Worcester) - Flavell's recovery is a significant boost for last year's the beaten semifinalists. Blues coach David Nucifora named four new faces in a team that features nine All Blacks. Flank Daniel Braid would have made it 10, but he will miss the first few rounds with an injury. Benson Stanley, Nick Evans, Tom McCartney and Danny Lee are set to make their debuts for the Blues. The game will also be Danny Lee's 50th Super 14 appearance. Lee beat off the challenge of rookie Taniela Moa in the race to start at No.9. Blues: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Lee, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Justin Collins, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Troy Flavell (captain), 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Nick White, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Ben Atiga, 22 Rudi Wulf.