News

The Crusaders head to Sydney this weekend to take on the Waratahs in round ten of the Investec Super Rugby competition. Kick off is at 6:10pm NZ time (4:10pm Sydney time) on Sunday.

Head Coach Todd Blackadder has named his team and has made three changes to the starting fifteen that beat the Hurricanes last weekend.  He has also put two new faces on the bench.

Luke Romano will partner up with Tom Donnelly at lock, and Samuel Whitelock moves to the reserves.

Ben Franks moves from tighthead to loosehead prop this week and Owen Franks will start at tighthead.  Wyatt Crockett will be ready to provide support from the bench.  Hooker Ben Funnell may get his first run for the Crusaders this season if he comes off the bench for starting hooker Corey Flynn.

The other new face on the reserve bench this week is actually one of rugby’s best known faces – Rugby World Cup winning captain Richie McCaw joins the team for the first time this season, having recovered from the surgery he received on his right foot last year.

Crusaders team to play the Waratahs:

1.               Ben Franks
    

2.               Corey Flynn
    

3.               Owen Franks
    

4.               Tom Donnelly
    

5.               Luke Romano
    

6.               George Whitelock
    

7.               Matt Todd
    

8.               Kieran Read
    

9.               Andy Ellis
    

10.            Tom Taylor
    

11.            Zac Guildford
    

12.            Dan Carter
    

13.            Robbie Fruean
    

14.            Adam Whitelock

15.            Israel Dagg
    

Reserves

16.        Ben Funnell

17.        Wyatt Crockett

18.        Samuel Whitelock

19.        Richie McCaw

20.        Willi Heinz

21.        Ryan Crotty

22.        Tom Marshall