Veteran Cowan debuts against Chiefs
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Fifty-game All Black Jimmy Cowan will earn his 124th Super Rugby cap, but his first for the Blues since returning to New Zealand against the Chiefs at North Harbour’s QBE Stadium.
Cowan previously spent two years in English with Gloucester. H forms a new partnership with Maori All Black flyhalf Ihaia West.
Blues centurion and World Cup hero Tony Woodcock also returns to Super Rugby for the first time in eight months.
Woodcock, who has played 110 times for the All Blacks, will earn his 140th cap for the Blues as he starts at loosehead prop.
The Blues will be led by new captain Jerome Kaino, who is joined by fellow All Blacks James parsons and Charles Piutau in the starting line-up, while prop Charlie Faumuina will come off the bench.
There’s a strong look to the Blues pack with star loose forward Steven Luatua in outstanding form in pre-season and forming a powerful back row combination with Kaino and Brendon O’Connor.
Players of interest coming off the bench include the 2014 captain Luke Braid, coming back from double shoulder reconstruction, and the exciting teenager Akira Ioane, signed this week by the Blues.
Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 George Moala/Hamish Northcott, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Jerome Kaino (captain), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacments: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Luke Braid, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Hamish Northcott/Ben Lam.
Date: Saturday, February 14
Venue: QBE Stadium, Albany
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
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