Crusaders to mix it up
The Crusaders have opted to put some of their All Blacks on ice when they take a squad of 30 to Motueka for their first Super Rugby pre-season match against the Highlanders on Friday.
All Black fullback Israel Dagg, as well as squad members Dominic Bird and Luke Romano will start.
However, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks and Wyatt Crockett are only included on the bench
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder also including a number of players who have never played in a Super Rugby level game.
All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty will captain the team, with regular captain Kieran Read and All Black captain Richie McCaw – who only started training last week – not in the matchday squad.
Crotty, whose five New Zealand games last year were all as a replacement, will play at inside centre.
"This is a great chance for some of our newer players and wider training group to get a run against another Super Rugby team," Blackadder said.
"There are also some of our most experienced players in the squad though, so we will certainly be looking to be competitive on Friday and give our Tasman supporters something to cheer for," he added.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Rob Thompson, 13 Reynold Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty (captain), 11 Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Jed Brown, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Tim Perry.
Replacements – from: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Joel Everson, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Colin Slade, Kieron Fonotia, Samuel Whitelock, Tom Taylor, Adam Whitelock, Zac Guildford, Mitchell Drummond, Corey Flynn, Daniel Lienert Brown.
Date: Friday, February 7
Venue: Motueka Sports Ground, Motueka
Kick-off: 17.30 (04.30 GMT)
Referee: Garratt Williamson
