The Blues are running out of loose forwards rapidly, with Steven Luatua called-up to make his run-on debut against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
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The 21-year-old lock-cum-flank has been part of the wider training group and came off the bench in last weekend’s victory over the Lions.
“When they named the team I was in awe and just thought ‘what have I gotten myself into?” Luatua quipped.
“But I was thinking about it last night and I’m really excited about the challenge. Playing the Crusaders in Christchurch, what better stage to make your starting debut on so I just want to go out there and do the jersey proud.”
Luatua joins the Braid brothers Daniel and Luke in the back row, while Cam Goodhue provides cover from the bench and could make his Super Rugby debut.
Goodhue has been called in as a replacement after Peter Saili was a late withdrawal, suffering an injury during training on Thursday. Saili joins loose forwards Jerome Kaino, Chris Lowrey and Brad Mika on the injured list, while Sean Polwart and Dan Pryor from the wider training group are also injured.
In the only other change to the starting XV, Tevita Mailau slots into tighthead prop in place of Charlie Faumuina who suffered a grade two calf tear just days before being named in the 35-man All Blacks training squad.
For just the second time this season, Lam has had the luxury of naming an unchanged backline.
Ten players in the Blues 22 for Saturday’s clash were not in the 22 when the two teams played each other in the opening round of the season, with nine out injured – Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Chris Lowrey, Anthony Boric, Brad Mika, Isaia Toeava, Rene Ranger and Rudi Wulf.
Only three players in the starting XV are in the same position in the second match that they were for the first – Ali Williams, Daniel Braid and David Raikuna.
However there are two All Blacks who did not face the Crusaders in round one who line up for the New Zealand derby in Tony Woodcock and Ma’a Nonu who will add some much needed experience and direction to a relatively young side.
Lam said he was expecting a fierce challenge from the fired-up Crusaders.
“It’s certainly going to be a dogfight down there,” he said.
“There’s going to be a full crowd I hear and they’re hurting, we’re hurting but at the end of the day it’s a Blues v Crusaders game and there will be plenty of feeling like there always is. It’s a great opportunity for us to try and back up from last week.”
Blues: 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 David Raikuna, 13 Ma’a Nonu, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Benson Stanley, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Luke Braid (captain), 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Tevita Mailau, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Cam Goodhue, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Lachie Munro, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Date: Saturday, May 19
Venue: Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Jonathon White (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)