Luke McAlister named in the Starting Line Up for Blues for their Friday’s Encounter against the Highlanders
Highlanders’, last week’s surprise victory against the Crusaders, have forced the Blues to bring back their tournament top scorer in the starting XV. Auckland Blues will be hosted by Otago Highlanders as they kick off the Round 11 matches of the Super XV
on Friday April 29, 2011.
Auckland Blues won their last game against the Melbourne Rebels during the weekend to make their way to the top of the New Zealand Conference and second in the combined Super XV table.
Blues are expecting a stiff challenge from the Highlanders who are full of confidence after their last game against the Crusaders. For this particular reason, they have preferred Luke McAlister to Benson Stanley.
Stanley was phenomenal in the game against the Rebels last weekend and scored one of the tries during the 46th minute of the game.
Blues’ coach, Pat Lam, acknowledged Stanley’s performance and praised his abilities. He said, "Benson came on and really put the pressure on last week and showed us his class and what he's able to do”.
He has termed the switch, purely tactical, as he wanted to stick with the combination of McAlister and Stephen Brett, particularly since Brett struggled with his kicking in their last match.
He said, “We felt that this week that with Luke's goal kicking and his partnership with Steve who's running the cutter well that this is the ideal game for the two of them to play and Benson will be able to come on and do a good job for us off the bench”.
Luke McAlister has so far scored 67 points while playing for Blues during the Super XV. This includes 14 conversions, 12 penalties and a drop goal. McAlister was moved to bench for rest. However, Stanley was substituted after his second half try to bring
McAlister into the fray.
Blues will be without the services of Tony Woodcock at Prop who’ll be replaced by Tevita Mailau. Blues can benefit also from Tom McCartney particularly as he can play at Prop and Hooker position.
James Kings also comes at the bench to replace the Lock, Filo Paulo. Paulo is ruled out to take field for Blues as he fractured a sesamoid bone under his big toe in their game against the Rebels. Paulo took the field during the 66th minute of
the game as he replaced Ali Williams.
Blues’ Lock, Kurtis Haiu, is ruled out of the game for the rest of the season as he has been diagnosed with a bone tumour. Earlier last week, initial tests reported a lesion in the left eight-rib bone, however, after the detailed tests Blues’ doctor, Stephen
Kara, has confirmed the tumour.
The Auckland Blues’ squad to take on Highlanders at Carisbrook inlcudes:
Starting XV: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu
(c), 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 James King, 19 Chris Lowrey, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Benson Stanley, 22 Lachie Munro.
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