Woodcock to play for development team

ALL BLACKS prop Tony Woodcock will take to the field for the first time this year when he plays for the Blues development squad against the Fiji Warriors in Pakuranga tonight.

The 83-test veteran, who scored the only try in last year’s Rugby World Cup final, has not played Super Rugby this season after activating an early-season rest clause in his contract to heal niggling injuries.

He will start the match at Bell Park on the loosehead side of the scrum and no doubt Blues coach Pat Lam will be eager to hear how the bookend gets on in his first hit-out of 2012.

“You can tell by his attitude that he can’t wait to get out there and get some game time. It’s also a great opportunity for the younger guys to play with someone of his experience,” says coach Jeff Wilson.

Meanwhile, midfielder Francis Saili has been called up to join the Blues in South Africa ahead of their match against the Stormers after wing Rene Ranger was suspended for two weeks.