Blues veteran prop Tony Woodcock looks set to make a delayed start to the 2012 Super Rugby season due to injuries which are taking longer to heal.
rugbyweek
Woodcock almost missed the Rugby World Cup last year with a ligament sprain in his foot but his bosses at the Blues have already had to grant him a late start to the season.
Blues coach Pat Lam says that Woodcock is still struggling from “quite a few niggles” and will miss the Blues early matches in South Africa.
The Blues start their season against the Crusaders but a trip to South Africa follows and Woodcock is expected to play against the Hurricanes at Eden Park in Round five.
“Tony’s always good for that and it’s about making sure that mentally and physically he’s ready to go.”
“After so many years of service in dark places in the front row I think he deserves that,” Lam told One News.
The Blues will be left with a lack of experience in the propping department with Woodcock’s absence and All Black John Afoa has moved to Ulster.
Lam is however confident that the Blues have enough depth to fill the gap in the early rounds.
“I think because we knew that early and Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau have been with us a while and we’ve got young blood in Angus Ta’avao and Pauliasi Manu.
Lam added that the younger players have stepped up their work rates as they look to work their way into the places left vacant by the veterans.
“As soon as they got a sniff of an opportunity I’ve seen the training and the work they’ve put in, they’re all fighting for those places now.
“They know it’s a dawn of a new era if you like those three guys (Woodcock, Afoa and Keven Mealamu) are our only centurions so it’s a chance for these guys to step up.
“For me as a coach and us as a group it’s embracing the challenge and the competition can only be won with the whole squad and this is a chance for them to start off.”