Carter and Woodcock warm up
February 03 2010
The Crusaders and Blues have brought out some heavy artillery for their final Super 14 warm up game in Motueka on Thursday.
Prop Tony Woodcock will make his first appearance for the Blues this year to complete an All Black trio in the front row, while North Harbour lock Filo Paulo will wear the number five jersey this week, in the absence of Ali Williams whose season ended last week with an Achilles tendon rupture in the Blues v Chiefs pre-season match.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has including All Black fly-half Dan Carter despite having had little more than a handful of contact-training sessions this to get ready.
Blackadder has named a handful of his All Blacks in the 27-man squad in their final hit-out before their opening match of the competition, against the Highlanders in Christchurch on February 13.
Carter makes his appearance this season with fellow November tourists Zac Guildford and Andy Ellis also in the starting backline.
Captain Richie McCaw is still on leave and will only return to the squad after the second round.
Injuries have ruled out a number of players including centre Tim Bateman and Ryan Crotty, wing Sean Maitland, scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and prop Wyatt Crockett.
Lock Chris Jack continues his wrist rehabilitation after surgery.
The Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (C), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Peter Saili, 19 Tom Chamberlain, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Rudi Wulf.
Crusaders: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Zac Guildford, 13 Robert Fruean, 12 Adam Whitelock, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Joe Wheeler, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements:: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Brad Thorn, 18 Kieran Read, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Willie Heinz, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Matt Todd, 24 Ash Parker, 25 Andrew Olorenshaw, 26 Quentin MacDonald, 27 Owen Franks.
Date:Thursday, February 4
Venue: Rugby Park, Motueka
Kick-off:17.30 (04.30 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock