Blues facing lock crisis
The Blues have called on Andrew Van der Heijden to provide vital cover at lock for the rest of the Super Rugby season.
With Anthony Boric already sidelined, Ali Williams out for the next eight weeks with an injured knee and Filo Paulo suspended for the rest of the season lock stocks in Auckland are looking fairly thin, which is why Blues coach Pat Lam has had to call on the 28-year-old.
It is déjà vu for Van der Heijden who answered an SOS call from Lam in 2010 during a similar locking crisis and earned three caps for the franchise before heading overseas to join English Premiership side Newcastle Falcons.
Van der Heijden has been back in New Zealandy barely a month after signing for the Auckland NPC team and now suddenly finds himself thrust into Super Rugby action.
He completed his first training session with the Blues on Tuesday, and said it was brilliant to be back.
"It’s awesome to be back and it feels like home," Van der Heijden said.
"There are a couple of new faces but I know the majority of the guys so it's quite good. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and hopefully getting some game time," he added.
Injuries continue to torment Lam, with no less than 11 players ruled out of action including five key All Blacks.
"It's been the story of our season really right from day one and particularly at lock," Lam lamented.
"It's really stretched us so we've called in Andrew Van der Heijden to join the squad.
"He's done it before and he did extremely well for us last time. He's a hard working lock and he's put on some size while he was over there so it's good for him to join us for his first training run today," he added.
The Blues have a bye after the three week Test window, followed by matches against the Western Force at home and the Brumbies in Canberra to round the season off.
