Super Rugby
Blues omit Benji Marshall from Bulls squad
ESPN Staff
March 6, 2014
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The Blues have omitted Benji Marshall from the match-day 23 to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with Chris Noakes given the nod as replacement fly-half due to his tactical kicking ability that may be key on the veld.

"Benji is obviously disappointed," Sir John Kirwan said of the decision.

"We've got a program for Benji and I've said I'm not going to rush it and it's really important that we slowly bring him into the game. I think what you've probably seen with Israel Foloau this year is he's so much better from last year's experience, so I think we need to bring Benji into the game slowly but at some stage we need to give him a start and just get him out there.

"It's important he's not known as the guy who comes on there and solves the problems when we're down. He needs to be a part of this football team and we need to give him a start at some stage; I just need to make sure he's ready for that."

Kirwan made three changes to the starting team that dismantled the Crusaders in Auckland, recalling Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock to make their first Super Rugby start of the season, alongside Charlie Faumuina in an all-All Blacks front-row, and selecting Liaki Moli ahead of Patrick Tuipulotu in the second-row.

"Our young guns are coming through and getting better and better, but to have the experience of an all-All Blacks front row is really important in Africa," Kirwan said of his inclusion of his two 100-cap Test front-rowers.

"The Africans love scrumming, they're big men, so Kevvie and Woody are already looking forward to the challenge. And, of course, Charlie has been with us from the beginning and just continues to grow week by week. The scrum will be an important part of our game and we need to be at least competitive if not dominant there so it's a big game for us."

The Blues backline remains unchanged, with Kirwan rewarding young guns Simon Hickey and Tevita Li for their impressive performances against the Crusaders.

"Simon played with great confidence last week so we'll leave him in there and we think he'll be fine," Kirwan said. "He shows a maturity beyond his age and like I said last week he's come through the grades, he's been that size growing up in an Auckland competition, so he's tough enough. Nothing really flusters him, he stands up in front of the team and presents, so he's got that maturity which I think is important for that position."

Kirwan said that Li would be peppered with high bombs, but he felt the 18-year-old would be up for the challenge.

"He ignited us last week. He's got a feeling for the game that's quite special. He just seems to be one of those guys who pops up at the right place. He's really alert, really keen and just loves being out there, and it's fantastic. He just plays, he's a pleasure to have around, and he's enjoying it, so we need him to take that confidence into the game. It'll be a big game for him from a high ball perspective. The Bulls will maul and they will kick high balls; that's how they play so it'll be another type of game for him."

Blues: Charles Piutau; Frank Halai, George Moala, Jackson Willison, Tevita Li; Simon Hickey, Piri Weepu; Peter Saili, Luke Braid (captain), Steven Luatua; Tom Donnelly, Liaki Moli; Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Brendon O'Connor, Bryn Hall, Chris Noakes, Pita Ahki.

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