Rugby: Brett has chance for redemption

Stephen Brett. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Every rejected rugby player relishes a second chance and Blues five-eighths Stephen Brett gets a double shot at Super 15 redemption tomorrow.

The backline pivot returns to square up against his old mates from the Crusaders in a match which should decide the top qualifier in the New Zealand conference.

Brett was sent in from the bench for the final 13 minutes last week as Blues coach Pat Lam searched for some magic to claw back the game from the Chiefs.

The ploy did not work but Brett made enough impression on his coach to reclaim his place for tomorrow's shootout in Timaru.

That is the way Lam painted the picture yesterday as he revealed a side with three changes for the trip down south.

Captain Keven Mealamu returns at hooker, Charlie Faumuina slots in at loosehead prop and Brett gets the first five-eighths role, causing a backline shunt.

Luke McAlister and Benson Stanley move out a place and Jared Payne switches to fullback and a director's role in place of Lachie Munro.

"Stevie had a chance to reflect after his play was not up to his normal standards," Lam said.

"He trained well, came off the bench and did exactly what we've been looking for from him. That is all you can ask for from someone who is dropped - to bounce back.

"I'm sure he will be very enthusiastic against his old mates and he is a good director in our backline. In the previous two weeks his performance was down but Stevie responded to the challenge, so I am happy about that."

Those statisticians in red and black country will have noted the latest tackle success chart for five-eighths, where Daniel Carter heads the list at 83 per cent and Brett bottoms out at 52 per cent.

It should give everyone a fair idea where the Crusaders will try to direct a chunk of their traffic.

Lam said the Blues were pumped for the match. Timaru was a new venue for them, the lead in the New Zealand conference was on the line and they were determined to raise their recent flat performances. The bookies were right to make the Blues 2-1 outsiders after their recent games.

"We have to play as a team because we have not done that for three weeks," Lam said. "However, I have been impressed with key players' response to go to another level."

Proof of that intent would have to wait for judgment until 9.15 tomorrow night, he said.

Set piece was a massive challenge for the Blues - they needed to show more energy after their modest effort against the Chiefs. They did not fire many shots in the opening spell.

New loosehead Charlie Faumuina showed some of the sting that had been missing last game, Lam said.

"He carries the ball extremely well, he is like a loosie in a prop's body and brings us the go-forward and defensively as well and is most important in the set piece."

Timaru, 7.35pm tomorrow

CRUSADERS
Tom Marshall
Brent Ward
Robbie Fruean
Sonny Bill Williams
Zac Guildford
Dan Carter
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read (c)
Matt Todd
George Whitelock
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Corey Flynn
Ben Franks

BLUES
Jared Payne
Joe Rokocoko
Benson Stanley
Luke McAlister
Rene Ranger
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Peter Saili
Luke Braid
Jerome Kaino
Ali Williams
Anthony Boric
John Afoa
K. Mealamu (c)
Charlie Faumuina

Crusaders: Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett, Luke Romano, Jonathan Poff, Willi Heinz, Mat Berquist, Ryan Crotty.

Blues: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, Chris Lowrey, Sean Polwart, Chris Smylie, Lachie Munro, Sherwin Stowers.