Blues head coach Pat Lam has faith in his players following their defeat to the Hurricanes last week and made just one change to the starting line-up for Friday’s clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin
Despite being penalised off the park in their season opener at North Harbour Stadium - conceding 13 penalties of which a record nine were converted into points by the Hurricanes, Lam has backed his players to learn from their mistakes and tidy up their work at the breakdown.
"I think it’s back to school and an understanding that there is low tolerance there (at the breakdown) and what the tackler does is quite crucial. If you look at the decisions last week, every decision was debatable. While you might have gotten away with it in the past they’re being pretty firm in that area now," Lam said on the Blues site.
Former Highlander Paul Williams has recovered from a head knock he sustained in a pre-season match against the Crusaders to start at fullback as Rudi Wulf switches to wing in place of Rene Ranger who drops to the bench.
"It enables Paul to go back to fullback, Rudi to go back to where he normally plays on the wing and Rene to make an impact off the bench. We’re blessed to have four good players there," Lam said.
The Blues head coach denied suggestions he had to salvage star first five Stephen Brett’s confidence following a mixed performance from his new playmaker last week, instead insisting the whole team needed to step up on Friday.
"Not at all, I thought for 55 minutes he was probably the best first five in the competition. I think it’s a salvage call for the whole team really. There’s a collective responsibility and the key guys who run the game have spoken about it and they want to fix it this week."
The Blues and the Highlanders will be contesting the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy in Dunedin.
Kick off is at 7.35pm local time.
Blues
, 15. Paul Williams , 14. Rudi Wulf , 13. Isaia Toeava , 12. Benson Stanley , 11. Joe Rokocoko , 10. Stephen Brett , 9. Alby Mathewson , 8. Viliami Ma’afu , 7. Serge Lilo , 6. Jerome Kaino , 5. Anthony Boric , 4. Kurtis Haiu , 3. John Afoa , 2. Keven Mealamu , 1. Tony Woodcock
Reserves: 16. Tom McCartney , 17. Charlie Faumuina , 18. Filo Paulo , 19. Peter Saili , 20. Chris Smylie , 21. Daniel Kirkpatrick , 22. Rene Ranger
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