Lachie break for ambitious rookie

Coming off the bench against the best first five-eighth in the world would be daunting for anyone, but for Lachie Munro it's just the kind of challenge he is looking for.
Munro has spent the week reacquainting himself to the first five-eighths position after Luke McAllister was knocked out in last week's warm-up match against the Chiefs at Pukekohe. The Blues' utility will deputise for Stephen Brett in tomorrow's Super-15 season opener against the Crusaders - and Dan Carter - at Eden Park.
While the focus for many will be how Brett does against his old team-mate and mentor, Munro is amped and ready in case he gets to play a role in the game.
The Taniwha player has only played bit parts in both of the previous two season's Super rugby campaigns and is excited to get involved so early this year.
"I never thought I would get a shot at playing in the first game of the season, but here I am. In rugby, like any other sport, opportunities can sometimes come out of nothing, so you've got to be ready," he said.
Munro has spent the last two seasons as part of the team's wider training squad but was offered a contract for the first time this year as a utility back.
If he gets the chance to make his mark tomorrow, he knows it could advance his career and he has been training all this week just getting used to the moves and plays his new role in the team will require.
At least he has had more of a chance to adapt to the idea of playing than he did in his debut in the 2009 season.
Many will remember his bizarre start for the Blues against the Sharks at Eden Park. Paul Williams pulled a quad in the warm-up, forcing coach Pat Lam to send an SOS to Munro, who was attending the races down the road at Ellerslie.
Last year Munro earned his second Super-14 appearance after playing well in the Blues' development squad and helped them to victory over the high-flying Reds at Ballymore.
He was on the left wing, playing a tidy final quarter, laying the platform for his contract.
A top season in a variety of backline positions for Northland in the ITM Cup - including the occasional spell at first five-eighths to take the pressure off David Holwell - added to his kicking prowess. It proved to Lam and assistant Bryce Woodward that he would benefit the team.
Rather than being nervous about a possible showdown with Carter, he has decided that if Brett was also injured in the warm-up then that would be a good thing - for him anyway.
"I wouldn't be too unhappy if that happened, that's the way things go sometimes and if I can make the most of my chance then that will help my career," he said.
He has spent some of the week studying footage of Carter with Woodward and feels he is ready to take him on.