Blues recall All Blacks to starting side

Mar 9, 2017 - 12:17 AM Blues coach Tana Umaga is not about to make the same mistake twice.

Umaga had a bunch of key All Blacks sitting on the bench as the Chiefs ran up a big lead which proved insurmountable in a 41-26 Super Rugby loss last weekend, despite three Blues tries in a late rally after they came on.

The coach had kept faith with players involved in the rout of the Melbourne Rebels in round one a week earlier but the Chiefs were a far more formidable foe.

This week All Blacks forwards Patrick Tuipulotu, Jerome Kaino and Charlie Faumuina have all been promoted to start against the depleted Kiwi conference rivals the Highlanders on Saturday.

All Blacks centre George Moala and winger Rene Ranger also move from the bench into the starting side.

"Jerome and Patrick had delayed (season) starts while Charlie has worked his way to excellent form, and both George and Rene impressed when they came on last week against the Chiefs," Umaga said.

"There's good depth in this squad and so there is going to be times when strong players won't get starts always."

Among those demoted is rising No.8 star Akira Ioane.

"It probably wasn't Akira's best game (against the Chiefs), and he knows that," Umaga said.

"It's just his all-out work, working for the entire time he's out there.

"It was a very intense game and they put pressure on us in the forward pack."

Kaino replaces fellow All Black Steven Luatua who has copped a four-match ban for the high tackle that had him red carded late in the first half against the Chiefs.

Blues hooker James Parsons has also returned after recovering from concussion that kept him out of the All Blacks' end of year tour and will lead the side against a Highlanders outfit desperate to get their season back on track.

The 2015 champions have lost their first two games, against the Chiefs and Crusaders, and have been beset by injuries.

Nine of their squad, including All Blacks loose forward Liam Squire and fullback Ben Smith, are unavailable.

They also lost midfield back Jason Emery for the season to a torn Achilles' tendon earlier this week.

Elliot Dixon will again lead the team for the Dunedin-based side, with one-test All Black Luke Whitelock replacing Squire at number eight.

BLues: Michael Co+llins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ihaia West, Augustine Pulu, Murphy Taramai, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino (co-capt), Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons (co-capt), Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Sam Prattley, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Akira Ioane/Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Piers Francis, Melani Nanai.

Source: AAP