Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has named a side for Friday’s opener against the Chiefs featuring three new faces in the starting lineup.
Loosehead prop Tim Perry, centre Rey Lee-Lo and wing Nafi Tuitavake will all make their first appearances for the franchise, while in the case of Tuitavake it will be his first game in the competition as a whole. Perry (Blues) and Lee-Lo (Hurricanes) played Super Rugby for other franchises last year.
Richie McCaw leads a side that features plenty of experience otherwise, although neither Kieran Reid nor Dan Carter feature. Carter is, of course, on sabbatical from Super Rugby, meaning a start for Tyler Bleyendaal at flyhalf.
Crusaders:
15 Isreal Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty (vice-capt), 11 Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Dominc Bird, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Tim Perry
Subs: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Rob Thompson
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Where is that giant wing that everyone’s been talking about, Napaoli something or other?
He’s apparently 1.95 and 130kg.
Thats a very good forward pack, not too much to much happening in the backs. I dont rate Bleyendaal…he just hasnt progressed from a good junior player
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : I’m surprised that they haven’t started Taylor. He played flyhalf for the All Blacks last year.
@ChrisS (Comment 1) : Another Jonah Lomu? Don’t tell the English!
😎 😎
@Caratacus (Comment 4) :
Apparently so. I’m really keen to see him play!
@ChrisS (Comment 3) : They seem to really rate Bleyendaal, not sure why
Tom taylor did become quite good at inside center as well
Chiefs – 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, (c), 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tevita Koloamatangi, 6 Liam Messam, (C) 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Subs: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Ben Afeaki, 19 Matt Symons/Liam Squire, 20 Nick Crosswell, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Andrew Horrell/Anton Leinert-Brown, 23 James Lowe.
Let the speculation begin . . .
Unrelated I know.
Just had a look at the UDT scores for the past weekend . . . What a great sight!
@Original Pierre (Comment 8) : great too see mills back and happy to see fruean in a chiefs jersey, that back line could do some serious damage would have started Kerr-Barlow but chiefs to take it.
@BR (Comment 10) : I know, looking at the backlines it`s tempting to back the Chiefs, but will the Whitelocks allow it?
@Original Pierre (Comment 11) : yip it is always daunting too play in Christchurch but the crusaders is always slow starters , hoping for another sharks – chiefs final this time with a different outcome.