All Blacks midfielder Ma'a Nonu will make his debut for the Blues in this weekend's Super Rugby match against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Nonu's been named to start at second-five, with halfback Piri Weepu also making his first start for his new franchise.
In other changes, Michael Hobbs has been made unavailable for the match with Gareth Anscombe to start at first-five.
In the forwards, Chris Lowrey moves to number eight and Luke Braid makes his first start of the season at blindside flanker to accommodate the absence of the injured Jerome Kaino.
In total, there are eight changes to the struggling Blues side.
