Rugby: Blues tune front row for derby showdown

Blues player Charlie Faumuina. Photo / Dean Purcell

It's all change for the Chiefs and an adjustment for the Blues as the franchise neighbours sift their front row resources for tomorrow's Super 15 duel in Hamilton.

Senior prop Charlie Faumuina has damaged a knee ligament although Blues staff hope he will be fit to leave at the weekend for the squad's two games in South Africa while the Chiefs have lost props Ben Afeaki and Toby Smith to long-term damage.

The rearrangements leave occasional Blues loosehead Tom McCartney to line up against massive rookie Ben Tameifuna whose 134kg frame gives him a 24kg weight advantage in his debut match for the Chiefs.

Tameifuna was part of the NZ under-20 side which won the world championship last year and was picked from Hawkes Bay as a front-rower with the potential to develop into a strong contender in his debut Super 15 season. But injuries mean he is needed now and will wear the No 3 jersey tomorrow with his cousin Arizona Taumalolo promoted to loosehead prop and Samoan captain Mahonri Schwalger starting this week as hooker.

Faumuina's place has been taken by Tevita Mailau in the one alteration from the Blues combination which started the opening loss to the Crusaders.

Coach Pat Lam said the group who started that match deserved a repeat chance for the local derby and that made selection simple. The only switch occurred because Faumuina damaged his knee at training this week and had been rested as a precaution.

"These are tough battles and they will come out hard," Lam warned. "As long as we do too. They will use this game as motivation, that is why these guys have been picked again. I think there were 15 guys who came off the field and were gutted and they have an opportunity to step it up another level, and we need to ... It is going to be a contest all the way through and a lot will be about attitude."

The Chiefs have brought Tanerau Latimer and Kane Thompson into their loose forward combination while Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Asaeli Tikoirotuma fill halfback and wing vacancies caused by injury.

"The injuries have meant there has been some movement in the team, but it also provides a great opportunity for the young guys to make their debut," Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said.

Lam noted how the Highlanders managed to disrupt the Chiefs with their counter-rucking tactics.

The Blues had claimed a quick lead in their first game but their lack of quality possession had hampered much of their subsequent work.

"We show when we have some, what threats we bring by the way we got back into it," Lam said.

All Black Piri Weepu is in the reserves as he works his way into full fitness and is covering halfback this week rather than five five-eighths where Gareth Anscombe is picked as backup.

CHIEFS

Hamilton, 7.35pm tomorrow

Robbie Robinson
Asaeli Tikoirotuma
Richard Kahui
Sonny Bill Williams
Tim Nanai-Williams
Aaron Cruden
T Kerr-Barlow
Kane Thompson
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Brodie Retallick
Craig Clarke
Ben Tameifuna
Mahonri Schwalger
Arizona Taumalolo

Chiefs: Hika Elliot, Shane Cleaver, Fritz Lee, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Andrew Horrell, Declan O'Donnell.

BLUES

Isaia Toeava
David Raikuna
Rene Ranger
Benson Stanley
Rudi Wulf
Michael Hobbs
Alby Mathewson
Jerome Kaino
Daniel Braid
Chris Lowrey
Ali Williams
Anthony Boric
Tevita Mailau
K Mealamu (c)
Tom McCartney

Blues: Pauliasi Manu, Angus Ta'avao, Brad Mika, Luke Braid, Piri Weepu, Gareth Anscombe, Sherwin Stowers.