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Loosie Jerome Kaino and halfback Taniela Moa will link up with the Blues in South Africa later this week, but will not be considered for the weekend's Super 14 match against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Both players have become first time fathers. Kaino's partner has had a baby girl and Moa's a baby boy.
Team manager Ant Strachan says there is not really enough time to get the pair on deck for the Bulls match, but they will be considered for the Stormers game in Cape Town next week. He says they go from the high veldt this weekend down to sea level as well, which will help the players acclimatise and get over the flight.
Strachan says they hope to have skipper Keven Mealamu available for the Bulls game on Sunday morning, after he strained his hamstring against the Force last weekend.
Meanwhile, a shoulder injury will sideline Bulls lock Victor Matfield for three weeks, a statement from the Pretoria-based Super 14 franchise said today.
Captain Matfield was injured last Sunday (NZT) in a 33-20 first-round victory over the Reds.
He will miss the match against the Blues, a local derby with the Golden Lions the following weekend and possibly the game against Western Stormers on March 7 in Pretoria.
- NEWSTALK ZB, AFP
