Super Rugby round 11
Blues suspend Moala from Reds clash
April 24, 2013
George Moala (l) is said to have broken an "honesty" team protocol
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Blues winger George Moala has been dropped for Sunday's clash with the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium. Moala, who had just come off a one-week suspension, is said to have "broken team protocol" and will not travel with the side to Brisbane. The 22-year-old is the second Blues player to break team protocol after centre Francis Saili was caught driving whilst he was disqualified last week. He was subsequently left out of the starting line-up, and was named on the bench, suggesting the incident involving Moala is far more serious. "He's broken team protocol so he won't be available for selection this weekend," coach John Kirwan said. "Just honesty with us; just not sharing some of the things that he needed to share with us. That's a big part of our team culture - honesty - so he won't be travelling." Moala was absent from a team event at Auckland's Sir Edmund Hillary Collage on Thursday and Kirwan said he could not "legally" disclose anything further. "What we can control is our team protocols and that's what we've enforced," he said. "They know the rules." Utility Albert Nikoro will start in Moala's place on the left wing, while former All Black lock Anthony Boric has been ruled out after he aggravated a neck injury. Blues: Charles Piutau; Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Jackson Willison, Albert Nikoro; Chris Noakes, Piri Weepu; Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua; Ali Williams (captain), Culum Retallick, Angus Ta'avao, James Parsons, Tom McCartney. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Ronald Raaymakers, Brendon O'Conner, Jamison Gibson-Park, Baden Kerr, Francis Saili. © Sportal
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