Rugby: Blues take cautious approach on casualties

Tony Woodcock may be out. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues have come out ahead of the Waratahs as both sides surveyed their casualty lists before their Super 15 clash at Eden Park.

The hosts are likely to be without loosehead prop Tony Woodcock but will balance that on Saturday with the return of test loose forward Jerome Kaino.

Locks Filo Paulo and Ali Williams are close to a return while there is much more uncertainty about Charlie Faumuina (hamstring), Daniel Braid (neck) and Brad Mika, who is out for the year with knee damage.

The Waratahs will be without Berrick Barnes and Wycliff Palu and there is also some doubt whether captain Phil Waugh or wing Atelia Pakalani will be risked.

Those absences mean Kurtley Beale will continue to play up in the line at first five-eighths while Ben Mowen will switch to No 8 with Dave Dennis likely to start on the blindside.

The Blues are still in second place in the New Zealand section of the competition after their bye. Coach Pat Lam was satisfied with their start to the series and hoped they would push on.

"We're better than we have been in the past in the sense of where we are on the table," he said.

The break gave the Blues time to revive some of their energy levels. Now they needed to work on improving certain areas of their game for what would be a tight battle at the top of the points table.

"I suppose after seven rounds, one loss that is not bad in that sense, but we have big improvements to make in our game," said Lam.

The Blues were making advances and had invested a lot of effort and determination in their campaign.

They were being careful with Williams' return from his hamstring injury. Braid had some movement back in his neck but staff were being methodical about his return. In the meantime his younger brother Luke would do the job.

The Waratahs were taking a similarly cautious approach.

"We've still got a long way to go in this competition. As much as we'd really like to have him [Palu] on board, I think we've probably got to err on the side of caution and get it right this week," coach Chris Hickey said.

Five-eighths Barnes would miss his third straight game after being concussed but was making good progress.