Williams and Wulf out of Blues openers

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,1...893575,00.html

All Blacks Ali Williams and Rudi Wulf have been ruled out of the Blues opening matches in the Super 14 due to injury and are unlikely to travel to South Africa with the team.

Injuries and impending fatherhood are providing some unwanted challenges to the Blues' early season campaign, with a number of key players unavailable for the opening games of tournament.

Ahead of Thursday's final pre-season match against the Highlanders, Head Coach Pat Lam announced that Williams and Wulf would not play and were unlikely to travel to Perth and South Africa.

Along with brother Jay who is unavailable due to an ankle injury, Ali Williams will be out of action for between two to six weeks after aggravating a back injury he sustained during the All Blacks Grand Slam tour.

"Obviously it's a big loss losing Ali and Jay so a lot of responsibility falls on the other guys, but fortunately we've got Anthony Boric and Kurtis Haiu who have been in the Blues for a while and are pretty experienced," said Lam.

Winger Rudi Wulf will also miss the three overseas games after he suffered a hairline fracture in last week's game against the Queensland Reds.

But Lam has taken a philosophical approach to the situation.

"Everything has gone smoothly until these injuries because you can't do anything about them, that's why when you select your 28 players you've got to ensure you trust the guys that are there," he said.

Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino and Taniela Moa will all become first time fathers in the coming weeks, also putting them in doubt for the tour to South Africa.

Rokocoko and Moa are likely to play in the first match against the Western Force in Perth on February 13 before returning home, while Kaino's child is due to be born on Sunday and he plans to join the team not long after that.

As a father of five himself, Lam understands the joys of becoming a father and fully supports his players' decisions to stay with their families.

"It's the first babies for them and it's a special time in their lives so I think it's important for them to be at the births," he added.

The Blues, who face the Highlanders at the North Harbour Stadium on Thursday in their final pre-season match, will fly to Perth on Sunday for the opening game of the Super 14 - to be played on Friday, February 13.

Teams:

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Chris Lowrey, 7 Justin Collins, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (Captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Onosai'i Auva'a, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Jimmy Gopperth, 22 Jamie Helleur.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Kendrick Lynn, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements - from: Jason Rutledge, Anthony Perenise, George Naoupu, Tim Boys, Sean Romans, Mathew Berquist, Jayden Hayward, Brett Mather, Chris King.

Date: Thursday, February 5
Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Kick-off: 14.00 (01.00 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence