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Auckland - Blues inside centre and All Blacks contender Luke McAlister has been relegated to the bench for their Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Melbourne Rebels at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Friday night.
According to the allblacks.com website, McAlister, who has been in impressive form this season to push his claims for a return to the national side, has been replaced by former All Black Benson Stanley.
In two other changes to the starting line-up, lock Ali Williams, who has not featured since he injured a hamstring in the 22-22 draw with the Force on March 13 returns to the pack in place of Kurtis Haiu who suffered a head injury in the win over the Waratahs last Saturday. While All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock, who missed the 31-17 win at Eden Park, takes the place of tryscorer Tevita Mailau after recovering from a calf injury.
Mailau moves to the bench, with Pauliasi Manu dropping out of the 22, while Toby Morland replaces Chris Smylie in the reserves.
Coach Pat Lam said the switch was to give McAlister a breather, given his recent workload and also the short turnaround. Depending on the state of the game, McAlister could be given a go at flyhalf when took the field.
Lam said having Williams, Woodcock and Stanley back would inject some fresh energy in the side. He said Williams was in good shape physically and mentally.
The Blues have kicked on from a scratchy start to the season with four wins in a row to sit second in the New Zealand conference and fourth on the overall table.
Melbourne are third in the Australian conference and ninth overall, and are coming off a 40-18 home defeat to the Highlanders.
Lam was determined to avoid a slip-up against a side they are favoured to beat, saying the Blues had had plenty of practice at that in his first two years in charge.
The Rebels welcome back two key players in Wallaby backs Stirling Mortlock and Julian Huxley from hip and abdominal injuries respectively.
Teams:
Blues:
15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Benson Stanley, 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 (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Chris Lowrey, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Lachie Munro
Rebels:
15 Julian Huxley, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mark Gerrard, 12 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Rodney Blake
Substitutes: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Hoani Macdonald, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 James Hilgendorf, 22 Luke Rooney
According to the allblacks.com website, McAlister, who has been in impressive form this season to push his claims for a return to the national side, has been replaced by former All Black Benson Stanley.
In two other changes to the starting line-up, lock Ali Williams, who has not featured since he injured a hamstring in the 22-22 draw with the Force on March 13 returns to the pack in place of Kurtis Haiu who suffered a head injury in the win over the Waratahs last Saturday. While All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock, who missed the 31-17 win at Eden Park, takes the place of tryscorer Tevita Mailau after recovering from a calf injury.
Mailau moves to the bench, with Pauliasi Manu dropping out of the 22, while Toby Morland replaces Chris Smylie in the reserves.
Coach Pat Lam said the switch was to give McAlister a breather, given his recent workload and also the short turnaround. Depending on the state of the game, McAlister could be given a go at flyhalf when took the field.
Lam said having Williams, Woodcock and Stanley back would inject some fresh energy in the side. He said Williams was in good shape physically and mentally.
The Blues have kicked on from a scratchy start to the season with four wins in a row to sit second in the New Zealand conference and fourth on the overall table.
Melbourne are third in the Australian conference and ninth overall, and are coming off a 40-18 home defeat to the Highlanders.
Lam was determined to avoid a slip-up against a side they are favoured to beat, saying the Blues had had plenty of practice at that in his first two years in charge.
The Rebels welcome back two key players in Wallaby backs Stirling Mortlock and Julian Huxley from hip and abdominal injuries respectively.
Teams:
Blues:
15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Benson Stanley, 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 (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Chris Lowrey, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Lachie Munro
Rebels:
15 Julian Huxley, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mark Gerrard, 12 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Rodney Blake
Substitutes: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Hoani Macdonald, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 James Hilgendorf, 22 Luke Rooney
