Blues' axe falls on Benji

Benji Marshall is the big casualty in the Blues' selection shake-up, ahead of their Super Rugby Round Four trip to Pretoria.

The Blues face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Marshall, recruited from Rugby League in the off-season with great fanfare, started in all three the Blues' pre-season outings and looked out of his depth.

The Blues continued to sing his praises, telling all that he was worth the investment, but he was dropped to the bench when the tournament got underway – playing the last 20 minutes in the 21-29 loss to the Highlanders in Week Two and failing to make it onto the park in the 35-24 win over the Crusaders last week.

For the Loftus outing he has been omitted from the matchday 23, with Chris Noakes given the nod as replacement flyhalf – according to coach John Kirwan due to his "tactical kicking smarts", which may well be crucial on the Highveld.

"Benji is obviously disappointed," Kirwan said.

"We've got a programme 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 Folau 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."

* Meanwhile the Blues have received a timely boost of front row firepower ahead of their match against the burly Bulls, with veterans Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock set to make their first starts for the team this season.

After playing 30 minutes off the bench last week, the Blues and All Blacks centurions have been promoted to the starting XV and will form an all-All Black front row alongside Charlie Faumuina.

"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.

"The South 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 only other change to the starting XV comes at lock where Liaki Moli has been selected ahead of Patrick Tuipulotu.

"Patrick had a really good first start last week but we just want to temper his growth and make sure we protect him a wee bit," Kirwan said.

"Also Liaki is champing at the bit and I think he is made for this type of game. It'll be a tough encounter and Patrick will come on in the second half."

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 it would be a challenging game for Li who will no doubt be peppered with high bombs, but he said 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: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 George Moala, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Simon Hickey, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid (captain), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Brendon O'Connor, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Chris Noakes, 23 Pita Ahki.

Date: Saturday, March 8

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT; 04.00, Sunday, March 9 NZ time)

Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Sieg van Staden (South Africa)

TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)