Marshall taking notes from Henry
The Blues' Rugby League convert Benji Marshall is counting on the guidance of Graham Henry as he prepares for his first Super Rugby season.
The World Cup-winning All Blacks coach is now a technical adviser with the Blues, and Marshall said that he has been a valuable sounding board in pre-season.
"He is an interesting character. Definitely different. I have really enjoyed his company," Marshall told ONE News.
"He speaks the truth and knows a lot about the game and I just wanted to pick his brain and learn some stuff about what he thought I could do in the game."
Although he has discussed technical aspects of the game with Henry, the focus thus far in pre-season has been on fitness and conditioning, so Marshall is not worried about committing to one position just yet.
"I like to be just in the team to be honest. Wherever I end up – whether that be 10,12 or 15 – I don't care. Whatever is best for the team," he said.
Blues coach John Kirwan says that Marshall is most likely to be used as a flyhalf, although he amitted that a final decision is yet to be made.
"I think he wants to play 10 so we will certainly look at that. I keep on saying we're not in a rush," Kirwan told ONE News.
"We want Benji to stay a long time. The transition is still not going to be easy but we certainly confident that he has all the goods."
"We are going to give him every opportunity to play himself in to the side but he has some good competition around," Kirwan said.
The Blues will play three pre-season fixtures in preparation for Super Rugby.
They will face the Hurricanes in Masterton on February 1, before flying to Sydney to take on the Waratahs the following week.
Kirwan’s men will round out their pre-season schedule with a clash against back-to-back champions the Chiefs in Rotorua before the competition starts the following week against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Blues' pre-season fixtures:
February 1
v Hurricanes- Memorial Park, Masterton; 15.00
February 7
v Waratahs – Allianz Stadium, Sydney; 19.30
February 14
v Chiefs – Rotorua; 18.00
