Woodcock loses fitness race
9 May 2012
All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock has not recovered from injury and will miss the Blues’ match against the Lions.
Woodcock, Chris Lowrey, George Moala and Rene Ranger have all been ruled out, forcing embattled coach Pat Lam to make further changes to his struggling side.
Gareth Anscombe returns at pivot, while Michael Hobbs shifts one position out to No 12. This in turn sees Ma’a Nonu starting at No 13. Benson Stanley will play on the wing.
Peter Saili comes in at No 8 while Daniel Braid is handed another chance at openside flank. Liaki Moli starts in the second row with Filo Paulo dropping to the bench.
Meanwhile, the Blues will soon advertise for a new head coach rather than wait until the end of what’s been a terrible year for the franchise.
Lam will be allowed to re-apply for his job, although it seems unlikely that his bosses will re-appoint him following such a nightmare 2012 season.
‘The reality is, the results of the Blues to date this season have put considerable focus on the role and as those in the rugby industry know, this is the time coaches look to secure their coaching posts for next year and beyond’ Blues chairman Gary Whetton said.
‘In order to ensure we have the best opportunity to garner interest from coaches both locally and abroad, this position needs to be advertised now.’
Blues – 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 David Raikuna, 13 Ma’a Nonu, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Benson Stanley, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Luke Braid (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau:
Subs: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Lachie Munro, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
8 Comments
9 May 2012, 07:15 am
Woodcock was the one Blues player who has been going alright this season…along with Faumuina and possibly Moala, the rest could all be playing for the Sharks or the Lions, thats how ordinary they have been..
glad Ranger is not playing, the bloke is an error machine , guaranteed to drop the ball 3 or 4 times per game..
Lions will think themselves a decent chance here…
9 May 2012, 07:16 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-1:
Lacking the x-factor now!!!
9 May 2012, 07:20 am
Blues Coaching Job 2013 to be advertised….. just heard on radio……..Amen
9 May 2012, 07:33 am
I hope Plumtree gets the Blues job.
9 May 2012, 09:19 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-3: Blues want new coach by July
9/5/2012 06:28 AM Lynn McConnell
Blues chief executive Andy Dalton said on Wednesday after announcing the decision to re-list incumbent Pat Lam’s job for the 2013 season that advertisements would be available next week and the search would be a world-wide effort.
The franchise wanted to give themselves the best chance to maximise their opportunity after the disappointments of this year, the worst in the 17-year history of the Blues.
Dalton said: “I think given the situation the Blues are in, one [win] from 10 [games], it is the worst record the Blues have had it was felt the best way forward was to get the position out there for 2013 and get the best coaching group together for 2013 if we can.”
There were no restrictions on where the Blues could look for a coach, especially if they looked to employ an overseas coach.
Lam was informed of the decision on Tuesday evening.
“We discussed it with Pat last night, Gary [Whetton] and I and I don’t think he was surprised but it’s a tough call, we’re all hurting for him. He’s a good man.”
Dalton said whether Lam was still involved next year would be decided after an appointment had been made and the end of season review process had been completed ahead of the employment of assistant coaches for whoever is chosen.
There were already expressions of interest from coaches despite the job brief not being available yet. There had been no discussion with any prospects for the role, Dalton said.
The job would be advertised next week, adding it was hoped an appointment would be made in July.
“We want the best coaching group together that we can get for 2013.
Whetton said that Lam’s carrying on in the role until the end of the Super Rugby season would be a test of his character and make up.
“I think it is important that he has the support of the team behind him, and he has, they are hurting as much for him as anyone else, we all are really, and I think you will see the calibre of the man.
“I think the only way we are going to get a result to judge on that is what happens our next six games,” he said.
It wasn’t a decision that been made hastily.
“But it’s the right thing to do, for the Blues, for all of us to go forward to look at the best options,” he said.
Dalton said the decision had been made based on the performance of the team and not as the result of any other issues
9 May 2012, 09:50 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-5:
They should advertise Andy Dalton’s job to…..The Rip Van Winkle of Auckland and Blues Rugby. As for Pat….. well who Knows.
9 May 2012, 16:29 pm
The battle of the bottom two..
tickets should be at half price for this one.
9 May 2012, 22:34 pm
Is this site a bit slow on the rugby uptake or what.. or are all they concerned with is promoting Kings for all they worth.??
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Super 15 – Lam to leave as Blues look for new coach
Wed, 09 May 04:53:00 2012
The Auckland Blues are to advertise immediately for a new head coach for next season after a miserable 2012 Super Rugby campaign.
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Incumbent Pat Lam will remain in charge for the remainder of this campaign and would be “eligible” to apply for the job, the three-times Super Rugby champions said in a statement.
Semi-finalists last year, the Blues came into the season with high expectations but their 35-19 loss to the Wellington Hurricanes last weekend left them rock bottom of the standings with just one victory in their first 10 matches.
“It’s obvious for all to see that the Blues are having a very disappointing season so far in 2012 and this has brought about the need for some action,” the New Zealand Rugby Union’s General Manager of Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said.
Lam has come in for a barrage of criticism as the Blues have continued to underperform despite having eight players in their squad who helped New Zealand win the World Cup.
Some of the criticism, which Lam dubbed “racist”, focused on the Auckland-born former All Black’s Samoan heritage and reduced him to tears at a press conference last month.
Blues chairman Gary Whetton said immediate action needed to be taken as this was the period when top coaches would be making decisions on their future.
“In order to ensure we have the best opportunity to garner interest from coaches both locally and abroad, this position needs to be advertised now,” he said.
Lam has been in charge since 2009 and is contracted until the end of the year.
Reuters
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