Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder has made two changes in the forwards and one in the backs for his team to play the Bulls in the 2012 Super Rugby qualifier match this Saturday.
Wyatt Crockett will wear the number one jersey and Ben Franks will move to the bench. Locks Samuel Whitelock and Tom Donnelly also switch positions from last week’s game, with Whitelock coming into the starting fifteen at number five and Donnelly taking a place on the bench.
Adam Whitelock moves back to the wing this week, vacating the outside centre position for Robbie Fruean. Sean Maitland will provide cover from the bench.
The winner from this game will progress to the semi-finals, playing either the Chiefs or the Stormers depending on the result from the other qualifier match. But Blackadder said it is about more than that for Crusaders fans.
“This is obviously our most important match yet this season. But it’s not just about the footy this weekend. This is about Crusaders fans getting another opportunity to come together and show that our spirit is still strong after all that has happened to us.
“We are so grateful to our supporters for helping us get as far as we have this season. Just by being at the stadium for the Bulls game, they will be helping us towards another win,” Blackadder said.
“So please join the Crusaders at home this Saturday night – it’s going to be something special.”
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Owen Franks
4. Luke Romano
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. George Whitelock
7. Matt Todd
8. Richie McCaw (c)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter (vc)
11. Zac Guildford
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Adam Whitelock
15. Israel Dagg
Reserves
16. Quentin MacDonald
17. Ben Franks
18. Tom Donnelly
19. Luke Whitelock
17. Willi Heinz
18. Tom Taylor
19. Sean Maitland
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July 18th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Are they only playing with 20?
They reckon the Bulls having Spies means they can rest two players extra…
July 18th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Cannot see the Bulls even getting near to winning this… but then again… at the beginning of the season I couldn’t see them even getting this far…
July 18th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 11:53 am:
IF they get the stampede going and keep it up for 80min they can do it but Saders will be prepared…
July 18th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/7296554/Serial-cheats-Crusaders-prosper-by-conning-refs
July 18th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Reply to JT_BOKBEFOK! @ 12:36 pm:
Many many many coaches and teams have “been ready” for the Bulls and their singular style of play.
They litter the anals of history as losers…
Knowiung what’s coming and being able to answer it are two different things.
That said the Bulls winning this in Christchurch is remote.
July 19th, 2012 at 4:42 am
Reply to JT_BOKBEFOK! @ 3:26 pm: Not many fish to be caught on this trawl JT. The Reason family have a history of spewing out NZ- hate stuff going back to father John Reason who used to write inflammatory and newspaper selling stuff about the AB’s. His son Mark obviously didn’t believe what his dad spewed out as he bizarrely emigrated from the UK to NZ in 2010 – maybe he thought he could carry on the family tradition better from inside the enemy camp?
July 19th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Reply to out wide @ 4:42 am:
That said though outwide…
Out of all the Kiwi sides the Saders DO get away with murder at the break down…
July 19th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Reply to DavidS @ 9:28 am: Some call it that, some call it playing to the referee.
Then again referees are only human and they must have their likes and dislikes. Interesting that Jean de Villiers, John Smit and Keegan Daniel were singled out the other night on tv here in NZ as being astute, respectful and the kind of captains refs like to work with. They don’t have to “gatkruip” but a bit of humouring the ref by the captain seems to be the likeable Jean de Villiers’ way. Clever bugger.
July 20th, 2012 at 8:40 am
I reckon the Bulls have a ten percent chance of winning this game. And their chances of winning the comp at 3. And its their own fault. Lets say they win this, then unless the sharks win, the bulls have to come back, beat the stormers at newlands and travel back over seas to beat either the chiefs or reds in the final. No way. They lost games they shouldnt have, just the blues game at loftus, wouldve meant the saders at loftus this weekend.
July 20th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Reply to out wide @ 10:20 am:
Ja but what Reason is saying is that the Crusaders do it intentionally as part of their tactics.
Reply to Aldo @ 8:40 am:
Ja that loss to the Blues has to be one of the most inexplicable brain farts I have ever seen…