Rested Crusaders roll out All Black muscle

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders are ready to roll out a full contingent of All Blacks when they host the Highlanders in the quarterfinal on Friday.

Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan they will have their All Blacks front row of Owen Franks, Codie Taylor and Joe Moody available for the southern derby.

Franks, 31, has not played since tearing a muscle in his right shoulder against the Brumbies on April 6.

However, he took full part in training on Monday.

Hooker Codie Taylor is also available, after sitting out a month with a broken finger.

“[Franks] has done a lot of work,” Ryan told a media scrum at the team’s training base in Christchurch on Monday.

“Credit to him,” he said, adding: “That is the man he is – he works as hard as he can.”

Ryan said it is good to have a full contingent to select from this week, as the play-offs loom large for the nine-time and defending champions.

“We know against the Highlanders we are going to have to change gears and ramp things up a lot more,” he said.

“We’ve talked a lot as a forward pack of changing gears. We have to.”

The Crusaders, well rested after having had a bye in Week 18, belted the Highlanders 43-17 when they played in Christchurch in April.

However, they are not reading anything into that game, one of seven losses recorded by the Dunedin-based side – who snuck into the play-offs with six wins to their name.

“We’ve got to ramp it up,” he said.

“One thing with Super Rugby, all you do is put yourself in position to play in a final.

“We’ve done that.

“Now, you’ve just got to be the best team for three weeks.”

@rugby365com