Rugby: Blues reshuffle forwards after Kaino suffers neck injury

Jerome Kaino. Photo / Getty Images

Jerome Kaino is the latest Blues loose forward to be struck with a neck injury.

The All Black and franchise blindside flanker has withdrawn from the match against the Cheetahs tomorrow in Whangarei after succumbing to persistent niggles.

His absence, with that of usual opensider Daniel Braid, has counterbalanced the visitors' problems in having lost lost their Springbok flanker Heinreich Brussouw for a month with damaged ribs.

Blues coach Pat Lam has juggled his loose forward choices and returned Chris Lowrey to the group but kept the rest of the side which played strongly last week to defeat the Chiefs in their cross-border skirmish. That has not come without problems.

Lock Kurtis Haiu and centre Jared Payne have both struggled with flu this week while a training ground injury to Filo Paulo means the side has been robbed of four locking choices.

Other locks in the casualty ward or coming back to rugby after injury are Ali Williams, Liaki Moli and Brad Mika.

Mika played 60 minutes for the Blues development squad last week as he continued his return to rugby after his serious knee injury.