RECAP: Crusaders v Brumbies
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round One encounter between the Crusaders and Brumbies in Christchurch.
The Crusaders have won their last nine consecutive Super Rugby fixtures against the Brumbies; their last defeat to the team from the Australian Capital Territory came in Round Two, 2009 (18-16).
The Crusaders have won 19 of their last 20 Super Rugby games against Australian opposition, including their last four on the bounce.
The Brumbies have won their last three consecutive regular-season games outside Australia in Super Rugby; the last and only time they won more in succession was a five-game stretch from May 1999 to May 2000.
* To read our pre-match predictions, CLICK HERE!
* Our live blog will appear below, it might take a little while to load, please be patient. We apologise for the inconvenience!
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Teams:
Crusaders: 15 George Bridge, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Sanders, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Mitchell Dunshea, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Brendon O’Connor, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Sevu Reece.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Henry Stowers, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Mack Hansen.
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Dan Waenga
TMO: Glenn Newman
