Rugby: Hobbs gets his chance in Blues' midfield

Michael Hobbs. Photo / Getty Images

Michael Hobbs, the youngest member of the Blues' squad and the only import, has received a full-acceptance certificate from selectors.

The national age-group utility back has been picked in midfield for the Blues' fourth successive South African challenge tomorrow against the Cheetahs at North Harbour Stadium.

Hobbs is only 20 and in his first season of Super 14 but he has settled quickly into the rarefied level of rugby in several cameo roles from the bench. Most notably, Hobbs showed great control when asked to play more than half a game for the injured Tasesa Lavea in Cape Town.

"Every time he's come on he's added a lot of impact and a lot of energy and this has given him a great chance to get a run," said coach Pat Lam.

This was a chance to show he could cope with the tougher competition at Super 14 level as a double pivot alongside Jimmy Gopperth.

For this fifth-round game Hobbs has replaced Jamie Helleur at second five-eighths, Rene Ranger returns from injury for the damaged Paul Williams and Justin Collins slots back into a revamped loose forward formation.

Opensider Onosa'i Tololima Auva'a drops out of the starting group to accommodate Collins, while Chris Lowrey and Jerome Kaino swap No 8 and blindside flanker roles.

There was one other concern at training when Ali Williams damaged an ankle though Lam was sure that would not affect his selection.

The Cheetahs have yet to win a game this season but have shown signs of quality. They also rested many of their top side last week so they could have a real thrash against the Blues.

Lam has already warned his team about the dangers of underestimating the visitors.

"Again it's the old cliche but any team on their day can beat anyone.

"We want to get out there and really have a good go but we have got to do the basics well and they have let us down in the Sharks game.

"We have to be really accurate in what we do and there's certainly a lot of respect for them."

One area the Cheetahs had dominated was in their lineout, Lam said. They had also disrupted a number of their rivals' set pieces in the early rounds of the competition. If the Blues were to recover their winning run, they had to make sure their set piece worked well.

Lam said dispensing with "neutral" referees had placed a great deal of pressure on officials this season but if the best men were being used then the Blues were content with the system.