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All Black dropped to bench as Crusaders make six starting changes for Force
By Finn Morton
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
- Joe Moody
- Brodie McAlister
- Owen Franks
- Quinten Strange (vc)
- Jamie Hannah
- Ethan Blackadder
- Tom Christie (c)
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Mitchell Drummond (vc)
- Riley Hohepa
- Macca Springer
- Dallas McLeod
- Levi Aumua
- Sevu Reece
- Chay Fihaki
Replacements
- George Bell
- George Bower
- Fletcher Newell
- Dominic Gardiner
- Cullen Grace
- Noah Hotham
- Rivez Reihana
- Ryan Crotty
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Latest Comments
Let’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
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