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Crusaders name Sam Whitelock in team for SRP final
By Finn Morton
Sam Whitelock will start for the Crusaders on Saturday when they take on the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
Whitelock was seemingly in doubt for this weekend’s decider, with New Zealand coach Ian Foster saying the All Blacks didn’t “expect him to play based on the medical data we’ve got.”
But the departing lock has been named for his 178th and final game in Crusaders colours. Whitelock will pack down in the second row alongside captain Scott Barrett.
The Crusaders have named an unchanged front row of Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor and Oliver Jager, while Barrett and Whitelock complete the rest of the tight five.
As for the rest of the forward pack, Sione Havili Talitui, Tom Christie and Christian Lio-Willie will form a formidable loose forward trio.
All Black Mitchell Drummond will partner long-time teammate Richie Mo’unga in the halves. Mo’unga has played a key role in the Crusaders dynasty, and will want to go out a winner in his last game for the franchise before heading to Japan.
Leicester Fainga’anuku is also set to head overseas after this year’s Rugby World Cup, and joins All Blacks bolter Dallas McLeod and Will Jordan in the outside backs.
Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor will link up in the midfield.
The Super Rugby Pacific final between the Chiefs and Crusaders is set to get underway at 7.05pm on Saturday at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium.
Crusaders team to take on Chiefs
- Tamaiti Williams
- Codie Taylor
- Oliver Jager
- Scott Barrett (c)
- Sam Whitelock
- Sione Havili Talitui
- Tom Christie
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Mitchell Drummond
- Richie Mo’unga
- Leicester Fainga’anuku
- Jack Goodhue (vc)
- Braydon Ennor
- Dallas McLeod
- Will Jordan
Replacements:
- George Bell
- Kershawl Sykes-Martin
- Reuben O’Neill
- Quinten Strange
- Dominic Gardiner
- Willi Heinz
- Fergus Burke
- Chay Fihaki
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I think we need to get innovative with the new laws.
Now red cards are only 20 minutes, Razor should send Finau on a head hunting mission to hospitalise their 10 with a shoulder to the chops.
Give the conspiracy theorists a win.
Go to commentsEngland played well enough to win but couldnt score when they needed to and couldnt defend a couple of X-Factor moments from Telea which was ultimately the difference. They needed to hold the ball more and make the AB's make more tackles. Territorially they were good for the first 60. Defending their lead and playing pragmatic rugby in the last 20 was silly. The AB's always had the potential to come back. England still have a long way to go, definite progress would have been shown had they won but it seems they are still stuck where they were shortly after the six nations and their tour to NZ
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