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Fresh front row for Crusaders

The Crusaders meet their southern rivals, the Highlanders, in Dunedin this Saturday night and Head Coach Todd Blackadder has named a team with six changes from last week.

 

The entire front row has been replaced so that Tim Perry, Ben Funnell and Nepo Laulala take the starting spots and Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn and Owen Franks move to the bench.

 

In the backs, Andy Ellis will start at halfback this week and Israel Dagg returns to fullback, which sees Tom Taylor move to centre.

 

Adam Whitelock has returned from Glasgow where he made his New Zealand Sevens debut and will be ready to provide some impact off the bench for the Crusaders on Saturday.

 

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Tom Taylor, 12 Ryan Crotty (captain), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Tim Perry. 

Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 George Whitelock, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Adam Whitelock, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.

 

Date: Saturday, May 24

Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Kick-off: 17.35 (05.35 GMT)

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

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