Rugby: Head-to-head clash props up Blues squad

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Blues' search for a prop to complete their 2001 squad has been narrowed down to three New Zealand players who will go head-to-head in a series of trials over the next eight days.

Tama Tuirirangi, from Taranaki, Tim Knight, of Northland, and Tongan prop Tevita Taumoepeau, who has transferred from Bay of Plenty to North Harbour, are the candidates for the final position.

Knight and Taumoepeau are specialist tightheads, where the Blues are short-handed. Discarded Hurricane Tuirirangi is better known as a loosehead.

The new Blues coaching team of Frank Oliver and John Kirwan has given up on the idea of finding a prop overseas, and instead want a player within the franchise area or at least from this country.

Former coach Gordon Hunter had looked overseas without finding any overly-promising leads, despite some interest from players in South Africa and Britain.

Instead, the Blues believe it is in the short and long-term interest to find and develop a player based here.

The trials for the trio will include a scrummaging session on Monday, which will be held under the refereeing of Steve Walsh jnr. That will be at the Blues' first full training session of the season.

They will also be asked to do a 3km fitness test, train with the Blues during the week, and play in a trial against the Chiefs on Sunday week.

"We will be having a very intense look at them," Oliver said.

The 30-year-old Knight has played nearly 40 games for Northland.

Tuirirangi, 22, has played a handful of games for the Hurricanes, but lost his place this year to Taranaki team-mate Tony Penn and former Harbour prop Tony Coughlan.

Taumoepeau, 26, played in the 1999 World Cup and for the Tongan side thrashed by the All Blacks at Albany last year.

Knight was originally touted as the local player most likely to get the call-up when a space was left open at the announcement of the Blues squad. He is a powerful scrummager, but Hunter apparently had questions about his fitness around the field.

The Blues have All Black veteran Craig Dowd and fellow Auckland NPC props Paul Thomson and Nick White in their squad.

None are specialist tightheads, although Dowd has played both sides. White can also play there.