Auckland Head Coach Craig McGrath has had to make a SOS call to Moana Pasifika playmaker Christian Lealiifano to start this weekend, as his team face a shortage of number tens.
It’s only the second week of this year’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition, and three of the teams first fives/number ten players have suffered injuries that will see them miss a few weeks.
Both Alex Harford and Zarn Sullivan who played in the teams opening match last week against Wellington have gone down with injury, while Rico Simpson is nursing a niggle from the recent Under 20’s tournament he took part in.
Blues playmaker Harry Plummer has also been called into the All Blacks squad as injury cover leaving Auckland with a major shortage of playmakers.
The side will now call on the expertise of Lealiifano who brings his vast experience from both international and club rugby level.
The 36 year old will lace up in his debut for Auckland on Friday night against Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Both Otago and Auckland head into the match with losses from last week’s opening round. Otago went down to the Southland Stags in a close encounter, while Auckland Rugby were outclassed by the Wellington Lions at Eden Park.
Alongside Lealiifano in the Auckland colours will be a number of experienced players captained by Blues loose forward Akira Ioane.
