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All Black set for Crusaders milestone in crunch clash with rivals Blues
By Finn Morton
In Super Rugby Pacific, derbies don’t get much bigger than the Crusaders versus the Blues. Throughout the esteemed history of Super Rugby, this rivalry has been both fierce and unmissable.
With the race for a top four spot in the playoffs heating up, this weekend’s clash between the two New Zealand rivals means even more.
Defending champions the Crusaders, who beat the Blues in a tight tussle earlier in the season, will host the competitions third-ranked side at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, on Saturday.
The Crusaders are fourth, and risk falling behind the Hurricanes and into fifth on the ladder if they fail to beat the Blues.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has named an impressive matchday 23 for the round 12 clash, which includes a milestone appearance for winger Leicester Fainga’anuku.
Fainga’anuku, who Robertson, recently compared to All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu, is set to play his 50th match in Crusaders colours. Prop Oliver Jager will also bring up the same achievement should he comes off the bench.
The Crusaders have gone with a star-studded forward pack, which includes the formidable front-row trio of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Tamaiti Williams.
Captain Scott Barrett will pack down in the second row alongside Quinten Strange, the loose forward contingent is nothing short of elite.
All Blacks Mitchell Drummond and Richie Mo’unga will look to steer the Crusaders around the park in the halves, as they look to create time and space for their world-class backline.
Fainga’anuku will start on the left wing, while Dallas McLeod and Will Jordan make up the rest of the outside back.
Lining up in the midfield are All Blacks duo David Havili and Braydon Ennor.
The match between the Crusaders and Blues is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST on Saturday at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium.
Crusaders team to take on the Blues
- Joe Moody
- Codie Taylor (vc)
- Tamaiti Williams
- Scott Barrett (c)
- Quinten Strange
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Tom Christie
- Cullen Grace
- Mitchell Drummond
- Richie Mo’unga
- Leicester Fainga’anuku
- David Havili
- Braydon Ennor
- Dallas McLeod
- Will Jordan
Replacements:
- Brodie McAlister
- Kershawl Sykes-Martin
- Oliver Jager
- Zach Gallagher
- Sione Havili Talitui
- Noah Hotham
- Fergus Burke
- Jack Goodhue
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Latest Comments
Thanks Nick. Surely they will thump Japan this week and the pressure will be off. Do you want to make a prediction that the defence coach will go before the Six Nations? England seem to want Borthwick there for a long time so surely they will back Bortho and look for a new defence coach?
Go to commentsYes, Carlos, I sensed before hand this would be a very close game, even could see an Arg. win....well, they have beaten all their three SH compatriots this year, then added Italy. And as nick says below, they were winners of the breakdown for a lot of the game, and both sides of the ball too.
Felipe very highly regarded in Ireland, esp. Leinster.
Good luck this weekend !
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