Payne eager to play for Blues

Northland rugby captain Jared Payne can't wait to get his Blues Super-15 career under way as the his new side takes on Bronson Murray's Highlanders at Oamaru in their first pre-season game.
After being signed by the Blues after the 2010 season was completed, the former Crusader has found it easy to adjust to a different team's management style and culture.
"It hasn't been a difficult transition for me really, I knew Pat [Lam] a bit before I came here and there is a good bunch of people involved and a good bunch of boys, so it's been good fun and they've made it enjoyable for me," he said.
He is impressed with the facilities and the organisation surrounding the team.
"There are a few little differences to how they do it at the Crusaders but all in all it's pretty much the same."
But while he feels comfortable with his new team, he is itching to get the season started with "fun" activities like last week's taking mud run at Devonport beginning to take their toll.
"You get pretty sick of pre-season training after a while and you just want to play so I'm looking forward to having a bit of a runaround - it's going to be pretty hot but it'll be good to stretch our legs."
With a new era of super-rugby about to get underway, there is a renewed interest in this year's competition and Payne can't see why the Blues shouldn't feature in the finals series.
"I think we've got a pretty good squad this year, with quite a bit of depth in quite a few positions and that will be good for the longer competition this year, so we're hoping it'll be a good year," he said.
Opinion around the team is that the changes made to the Super-15 will benefit the players overall.
"I think the changes are seen as a positive thing, obviously it's going to be tougher because there are a few more games but it's a good opportunity to try and make the top six and actually have a go at winning it - because if you make the top two in the New Zealand conference, you'll be close to going through.
"I think it'll be a positive thing to play the New Zealand teams more often, I think the rugby public will like it and we'll get to spend a bit more time at home," Payne said.
He said three of the Blue's Taniwha contingent will travel to Oamaru, with none of the Blue's All Blacks making the trip.
"Rene (Ranger) has just come back to training after injuring his hamstring and Lachie's going very well - he's the fittest in the team at the moment so he's doing bloody well and Aaron Bancroft has been going well and he'll get a bit of game time tomorrow I imagine - so hopefully he can push his claim for a spot," he said.
Former All Black lock Ali Williams is expected to return to play for the Blues as early as the match against the Hurricanes at the Kerikeri Domain next Friday after a stint of playing rugby in England.
Williams has spent the last month in England playing for Nottingham in the English second division after rehabilitating from an injury that kept him sidelined for almost the entire 2010 season.
The Blues will go into camp on Monday in Ngunguru, ahead of next Friday's match against the Hurricanes. There will be a special session for the fans to meet the Blues next Thursday at the Kerikeri Domain.