Rugby: Moulds: It'll be intense

Matt Moulds, pictured during a Taniwha training session last year, will run out with the Blues at Toll Stadium tonight. Photo / File

Northland's Matt Moulds will start his first match for the Blues on Toll Stadium when the side take on the Chiefs tonight.

Although the All Blacks are still "transitioning" back into the Super 15 rugby competition after their end-of-year tour, Moulds will be a part of a strong-looking Blues side in their first pre-season match of the year.

Moulds said it would be good to play his first Super Rugby match in front of a Northland crowd and he expected a high-intensity game.

"We've been working hard because we want to be ready for them because we'll be facing the Chiefs in the first round of the competition at QBE (North Harbour) Stadium, so it's big game for us," he said.

Months of hard training have paid off for the Otamatea hooker, who has tossed in an international sevens position for the opportunity to play for the Blues.

"We've gradually been building up the contact, and we've had some very big contact sessions so we'll be ready when the game starts tomorrow," Moulds said.

The young players in particular would have plenty to play for when the whistle blew, he said.

Their All Blacks are still integrating back into the team - but Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu and Charles Piutau will be in attendance, watching how some of their young competitors for starting places handle the pressure.

Luke Braid and Tony Woodcock are returning from off-season surgery and still on rehabilitation programmes.