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

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.