All Black dropped to bench as Crusaders make six starting changes for Force

The Crusaders have dropped one-Test All Black Cullen Grace to the bench as one of six changes to their starting side to take on the Western Force in Perth on Saturday evening.

Grace, who has also played for the Maori All Blacks, will wear the No. 20 this week with Christian Lio-Willie getting the nod to start in the loose forwards.

The No. 8 joins captain Tom Christie and All Black Ethan Blackadder in the backrow, while the second row of Quinten Strange and Jamie Hannah has gone unchanged.

Coach Rob Penney has named an all-new front row with Joe Moody set to pack down along with Brodie McAlister and Test veteran Owen Franks at HBF Park.

There are two changes in the backline with Mitchell Drummond replacing rising star Noah Hotham as the starting halfback, and Macca Springer being named to start on the wing.

Springer, who played for the New Zealand U20s last year along with Noah Hotham, comes in for Wales international Johnny McNicholl who has flown to Christchurch to have a finger injury assessed.

The rest of the backline remains the same with Rily Hohepa starting at first five, and Dallas McLeod and Levi Aumua lining up in the midfield. Sevu Reece and Chay Fihaki have retained their spots in the outside backs.

Following their heartbreaking golden point defeat to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, the Crusaders will be desperate to get the better of the last-placed Western Force this weekend.

But the Force won’t be an easy team to beat in Perth. They got the better of the then-high flying Queensland Reds in a big upset 40-31 win on March 23.

With both teams’ playoff hopes slipping away, another loss in round nine will be tough to overcome.

This match is set to get underway at 9:35 pm NZT on Saturday evening.

Crusaders team to take on Western Force

1. Joe Moody
2. Brodie McAlister
3. Owen Franks
4. Quinten Strange (vc)
5. Jamie Hannah
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Tom Christie (c)
8. Christian Lio-Willie
9. Mitchell Drummond (vc)
10. Riley Hohepa
11. Macca Springer
12. Dallas McLeod
13. Levi Aumua
14. Sevu Reece
15. Chay Fihaki

Replacements

16. George Bell
17. George Bower
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Dominic Gardiner
20. Cullen Grace
21. Noah Hotham
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Ryan Crotty