Flavell's back for the Blues.

[ozbash]

Troy Flavell, gradute (hons) of the richard loe school of rugby ettiquette is coming back to save the blues.
surprisingly graham henry is very happy about it.

he reckons he,s turned over a new leaf but i say a leopard dont change its spots.
I,ll give him 2 weeks.,,,,,

He's not exactly the cavalry, but Troy Flavell has at last arrived to lend his hand to the Blues' Rebel Sport Super 14 camapaign.

In what could only be described as a major boost for the Auckland-based franchise after their opening-round defeat, and then injury issues that went with it, some good news has come out of bad for Flavell's club in Japan.

Flavell's Toyota side suffered a shock defeat to Waseda University in the knockout stages of the Japanese club competition at the weekend, going down 24-28 in a result which evidently was of David slaying Goliath dimensions.

Flavell scored a try for Toyota but his efforts were not enough to stop the supposedly powerful club side being defeated by the part-timers. All of which meant the powerful utility forward was free of his commitments in Japan.

He immediately jumped on a plane and arrived back in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon. The former All Black, who was being presented to the media at Blues training headquarters later today, was to commence training immediately with the side.

He is not expected to be in the selection frame for this week's tricky assignment against the Highlanders in Dunedin, but should make his much-anticiapted return to his former franchise against the Reds in Brisbane the following weekend.

The now 29-year-old Flavell last played Super rugby in the 2003 competition, but left for Japan after being handed a 12-week ban for stomping on Chiefs hooker Greg Smith. All Blacks coach Graham Henry has indicated he was keen to see the rugged lock-loose forward return.

All of which will be good news for Blues coach David Nucifora who may well usher Flavell in initially via the loose trio where the Blues lacked impact in the weekend's defeat to the Hurricanes.

Compounding the problems in the loose, All Black tourist Angus Macdonald is in major doubt for the Highlanders match with a hamstring problem that prevented him training early this week. That will likely see Nick Williams return to his preferred position at No 8 after an anonymous outing on the blindside on Friday night.

The Blues also have concerns over goalkicker Luke McAlister and midfielder Ben Atiga who missed the first training session of the week with niggles out of the Hurricanes match.

Nucifora is sure to make changes anyway after the disappointing second half against the Canes, primary amongst them the return of Steve Devine to halfback. The former All Black has shaken off a head knock after being hit in a thundering tackle by Jerry Collins that limited his contribution off the bench.

 

[Scott]

I think he will be at the World Cup in France next year. He will not do anything stupid this time.

 

[ozbash]

Troy Flavell has been rushed into the struggling Blues side as expected with the former All Black charged with adding some grunt to the forward effort for the must-win Super 14 match with the Reds in Queensland on Saturday night.

Flavell, who has been back from Japan for just over a week, comes in at blindside flanker to replace the injured Justin Collins.

No 8 Nick Williams has shrugged off an injury to hold his place, meaning Flavell's return is the only change to the pack beaten by the Highlanders last Friday.

There has been little sign of panic from Blues coach David Nucifora who has stuck with the backline that took over once Luke McAlister was forced off in Dunedin with a broken jaw.

That sees Rua Tipoki hold on to the second five-eighths job alongside his North Harbour centre Anthony Tuitavake.

"Rua Tipoki will put his hand up there at 12. I have the utmost confidence in Rua, he's a very experienced player and very threatening. Also his combination with Anthony Tuitavake was highlighted during the NPC," said Nucifora.

Harbour fullback George Pisi is named in the Blues 22 for the first time, getting a spot on the bench.

The Blues will be under goalkicking pressure without McAlister and that could prove telling.

Nucifora said the increased responsibilities on Tasesa Lavea in the pivot (he will take the shots at goal as well as run the game) were something the coaching staff had attempted to address.

"We've been doing a fair bit of work with Tasesa on his goalkicking. We're pretty comfortable with his goalkicking ability."

Asked if there was extra pressure on his No 10, who isn't exactly renowned as a dead-eye goalkicker and whose general play has run hot and gold thus far, Nucifora had an emphatic response.

"It's not just his responsibility, it's a team responsibility. If we don't provide a platform in other areas, things compound and snowball down line. One thing that certainly won't happen in this team is any finger-pointing.

"Blokes all take responsibility that they've got a job to do to be able to let everyone else play their game."

This is a crucial match with the Blues desperate to get their campaign under way after bemusing losses to the Hurricanes and Highlanders.

The Reds are just as desperate having lost their two matches - both at home in Brisbane - to the Waratahs and Crusaders.

"These are trying times," conceded Nucifora, "but we're good enough to overcome it."

Nucifora said he wasn't hoping to quash the Blues' natural attacking instincts, but admitted that he was working hard on cutting out the looseness in the game that had cost them so dearly in recent weeks.

"You're not going to change things that are habitual overnight. It's going to take time. We're working hard on it, the players are aware what I'm wanting from them and working hard towards it. Hopefully we see the improvement this week in the way we want to play."


BLUES: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Rua Tipoki, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Steve Devine; 8 Nick Williams, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Troy Flavell, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Tim Dow, 17 Saimone Taumoepeau, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 John Senio, 21 Vili Waqaseduadu, 22 George Pisi.

 

[aussies1st]

I reckon his trip to Japan has changed him. Also the lure of a AB jumper for the WC should stop him doing stupid stuff.

 

[kia ora storm]

Flavell will add the mongrel to the Blues pack...they will thump the Reds.