Nineteen Crusaders back for rematch
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders will have almost their entire team from last year’s victorious Super Rugby Final back for the 2018 episode.
When the Crusaders host the Lions in Christchurch on Saturday, it will be the first time in the competition’s history that the same two teams will meet in back-to-back Finals.
The match will be the first time the eight-time champion Crusaders have played a Final on home soil since 2008.
The Crusaders will have 19 players back from last year’s Final.
Coach Scott Robertson made just one, enforced, change from the starting XV that took the field in last weekend’s semifinal against the Hurricanes.
There is also just one change on the replacement bench.
In the No.6 jersey, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis will start, in place of injured loose forward Jordan Taufua – who fractured his arm in the semifinal.
Last weekend’s reserve hooker, Seb Siataga, also fractured his arm in that match and has been replaced by Sam Anderson-Heather as back up to Codie Taylor.
Crusaders: 15. David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Sam Anderson-Heather, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor.
Date: Saturday, August 4
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch.
Kick-off: 19.35 (09.35 SA time; 07.35 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson, Nic Berry
TMO: Shane McDermott
