McCaw gets blindside role
All Black captain Richie McCaw will make his long-awaited return to the playing field against the Brumbies in Christchurch on Saturday.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder named a team that shows five changes to the starting fifteen that beat the Chiefs two weeks ago.
McCaw has recovered from his fractured thumb to return to the starting line-up.
However, he will play at blindside flank in this Round 12 Super Rugby outing.
Matt Todd retains the No.7 jersey and Luke Whitelock comes in at No.8 – with Kieran ruled out due to the concussion suffered against the Chiefs.
Also returning from injury are Kieron Fonotia and Luke Romano.
Fonotia will play at outside centre, seeing Tom Taylor take a place among the replacements, and Romano will provide lock cover off the bench.
The hookers and scrumhalves rotate again this week.
This will see Ben Funnell starting at hooker and Andy Ellis the starting scrumhalf.
Corey Flynn and Willi Heinz will be ready to provide impact off the bench.
Inside centre Ryan Crotty will captain the side in Read's absence and McCaw will take up the vice-captaincy role.
The Crusaders have won their last three matches against the Brumbies, all in high-scoring games which produced over 50 points.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty (captain), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Richie McCaw, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Nafi Tuitavake, 17 Tom Taylor, 18 Willi Heinz, 19 Jordan Taufua, 20 Luke Romano, 21 Tim Perry, 22 Nepo Laulala, 23 Corey Flynn.
Date: Saturday, May 3
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 16.35 (04.35 GMT; 14.35 AEST)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Ben O'Keefe (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
