Blues bench Weepu
3 Apr 2012
Piri Weepu will start from the wood for the Blues against the Rebels after a disappointing start to the season.
Weepu is one of four personnel and two positional changes for the Blues, who languish at the foot of the Super Rugby table with just one win in five matches.
Alby Mathewson starts at scrumhalf and Gareth Anscombe at flyhalf. Rene Ranger and Keven Mealamu are back from suspension and injury respectively. Ranger starts on the wing.
Filo Paulo comes into the second row for Anthony Boric, who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a neck injury. Rudi Wulf takes over at fullback from Lachie Munro who shifts to the right wing.
Meanwhile the Rebels welcomed back Danny Cipriani from injury. His return sees James O’Connor move to inside centre.
Rebels - 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Mark Gerrard, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve (c), 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Nic Henderson.
Subs: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Alister Campbell, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Julian Huxley, 22 Lloyd Johansson.
Blues - 15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Lachie Munro, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Brad Mika, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Dan Pryor, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Hadleigh Parkes.

13 Comments
3 Apr 2012, 07:38 am
I wouldve done this long time ago.
Too fat
Too slow
Too unfit
Too many upsize big macs
Dragon
3 Apr 2012, 08:00 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-1: True.
3 Apr 2012, 08:03 am
Dont know who to pick for this one. Both teams struggling.
3 Apr 2012, 08:07 am
1 win from 5 and that was the Bulls….
3 Apr 2012, 08:23 am
Blues look awesome on paper but absolute rubbish on the pitch. Will be even worse without the pie man from the Canes. Piri might be a vetgat son of a bitc h but still one of smartest and most naturally gifted players in in NZ.
3 Apr 2012, 08:26 am
who wants it less….
3 Apr 2012, 09:00 am
The ricky january of nz
3 Apr 2012, 09:08 am
Piri reminds me of Benni “Big Mc” McCarthey
3 Apr 2012, 11:31 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-1: You forgot World Cup winning half back.
3 Apr 2012, 12:15 pm
So was Ricky.
3 Apr 2012, 12:17 pm
Rebels by 5.
3 Apr 2012, 14:45 pm
It is NZRU’s policy that players be selected and promoted on the grounds of their ability and potential to meet the requirements of every position. At the same time, it recognises that due to past cultural factors, certain teams have been denied access to opportunities for higher honours or participation in the Super 10.
3 Apr 2012, 15:14 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-10:
Was that the same Ricky that won the game in NZ…..first one in 10 years.
Didnt he score the winning try, an individual performance. He had to really, as
the Bok team were not going to win that game at all.
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