Blues v Lions: Teams
Blues coach Pat Lam has recalled fly-half Gareth Anscombe to the starting XV for Friday's clash with the Lions in Auckland.
Last Updated: 10/05/12 10:12am
Blues coach Pat Lam has recalled fly-half Gareth Anscombe to the starting XV for Friday's clash with the Lions in Auckland.
Anscombe was sensationally dropped from the squad for last week's match against the Hurricanes but his return is one of several changes in Pat Lam's squad.
Rene Ranger, Chris Lowrey and George Moala have been ruled through injuries sustained in their loss in Wellington.
Amongst the backs, there are several positional changes. Michael Hobbs moves to inside centre to accommodate Anscombe's return while Ma'a Nonu shifts to outside centre and Benson Stanley to the left wing.
With Lowrey out, Peter Saili gets a start at number eight while Daniel Braid returns to the flank where he will join his brother Luke, who captains the team.
The only other change sees Liaki Moli replacing Filo Paulo at lock.
Lions coach John Mitchell has made one change to his team in the battle between this season's Super Rugby strugglers.
The Lions and Blues are second last and bottom of the Super Rugby table respectively, with each side only managing a solitary win thus far this season.
The men from Johannesburg lost 34-21 to the Chiefs last time out, but Mitchell has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes.
Indeed, the only alteration to the starting XV is injury-enforced.
Centre Alwyn Hollenbach has returned to South Africa due to a knee injury and he is replaced by Michael Killian, who slots in on the left wing with Jaco Taute moving into the midfield.
Blues: 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 David Raikuna, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Benson Stanley, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Luke Braid (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Lachie Munro, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Franco Van der Merwe, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 CJ Van der Linde, 18 Cobus Grobbelaar, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Ruan Combrinck, 22 James Kamana.
