Munro gets Blues start

TANIWHA utility Lachie Munro is relishing the opportunity to play a starring role in his first ever Super 15 start against the Hurricanes tonight.
The 24-year-old has had enough of bit parts in the Blues effort this season and plans to make the most of his start.
"It's pretty exciting, I've been hoping for one all year obviously and it's been a long wait but this time I finally get a crack," he said.
"I've been plugging away and I've been getting a bit annoyed to only get a few minutes off the bench here and there but I've been focused on playing my role properly and not buggering anything up so they trust me enough to give me a start and now that's paid off."
Munro got his break after Isaia Toeava succumbed to an old hip injury that could rule him out for the rest of the competition. As often is the case in professional sport, one man's misfortune is another's gain and Munro's solid form from the bench has made him the obvious choice for coach Pat Lam's remodelled backline.
The former Auckland star, who came north in 2009 to resurrect his career after being snubbed by his home union, gets his start on the wing but has had a word with Lam reminding him of his ability in the 15 jersey.
"I don't think it was to hide me that they put they put me out on the wing, I think more that it fits more with the plan for this game, of how we want to play it against the Hurricanes," he said.
Benson Stanley returns to replace the injured Luke McAlister at second five-eighth, while the rest of the changes feature the other Taniwha players in the starting line-up. Jared Payne moves to fullback, while Rene Ranger will also relish his shot at playing centre.
"Jared's played some great rugby at centre that's for sure, but everyone in Northland knows what Rene can do - you give him a bit more ball and stand back and watch what he brings to the game, he could have a barnstormer," Munro said.
Munro has been named on the opposite side to All Black winger Hosea Gear and will probably mark Alipati Leuia but whoever he is up against he plans to continue his methodical approach to the game until an opportunity arises.
"I'll just do my thing on defence and on attack I'm hoping I'll be able to turn him around a bit and have a good go, because it'd be nice to get a try on the wing, real sweet," he said.
Although the Hurricanes playoff chances are extremely slim, they will be dangerous at home as they proved to the high-flying Reds last weekend.
"They're playing a lot better and they've improved their game and obviously they're a strong side when they're on their game - they've got a few injuries and so have we - but we don't want to take them lightly," he said.
Despite the injuries, morale is at an all time high at the Blues, and they are determined to carry on their winning streak.
"We're planning to play good rugby for the whole game - that's the plan we took down to the Highlanders last week, to stamp our mark on the game from the start and don't let up."
Munro said Lam was thrilled with the way they played against the Highlanders last week.
"We won in a style that wasn't really like Blues rugby, he's happy how his ideas are being put into practice by the players," Munro said.
A fourth Northland player, Aaron Bancroft, features on the bench tonight, while another contacted Taniwha, Dan Prior, has been called to train with the wider training squad.
Blues: Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Lachie Munro, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saiili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Chris Lowrey, John Afoa, Keven Mealumu (captain), Tevita Mailau. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu, James King, Sean Tolwart, Chris Smylie, Aaron Bancroft, Sherwin Stowers.
Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Alapati Leiua, Jayden Hayward, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Hosea Gear, Aaron Cruden, Chris Eaton, Victor Vito, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, James Broadhurst, Jason Eaton, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore (captain), John Schwalger. Reserves: Dane Coles, Anthony Perenise, Jeremy Thrush, Mark Reddish, Tyson Keats, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett.