Crusaders vs. Highlanders
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Highlanders: Ben Smith (cc), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Richard Buckman, Marty Banks, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Ash Dixon (cc), Aki Seiuli, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Joe Wheeler, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Lima Sopoaga, Matt Faddes. -
BNZ Crusaders team to play the Highlanders
The BNZ Crusaders will play the Highlanders for the second time this season in an afternoon derby at AMI Stadium. Head Coach Scott Robertson has made ten changes to the starting line-up that beat the Rebels last weekend.
The entire front row has changed, with Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks starting, and Wyatt Crockett, Mike Alaalatoa and Ben Funnell sitting on the bench.
The other changes in the forwards are at lock, with Luke Romano staring and Quinten Strange shifting to the reserves, and at loose forward with Matt Todd returning at number 7 in place of Pete Samu.
In the backs, Mitchell Drummond starts at halfback this week. George Bridge and Seta Tamanivalu take the wings, and Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue start in the midfield. Bryn Hall will cover halfback while Mitchell Hunt and Israel Dagg will cover the rest of the back line.
The last time the BNZ Crusaders and Highlanders played each other was in round two of the season, and the Crusaders snatched a last minute win down in Dunedin. The BNZ Crusaders have won every game since, while the Highlanders have dropped just one game since and won their last nine in a row.
Kick-off is at 2:35pm on Saturday at Christchurch's AMI Stadium.
BNZ Crusaders team to play the Highlanders:
1 Joe Moody
2 Codie Taylor
3 Owen Franks
4 Luke Romano
5 Sam Whitelock (C)
6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
7 Matt Todd (VC)
8 Jordan Taufua
9 Mitchell Drummond
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (VC)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Seta Tamanivalu
15 David HaviliRESERVES
16 Ben Funnell
17 Wyatt Crockett
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Quinten Strange
20 Jed Brown
21 Bryn Hall
22 Mitchell Hunt
23 Israel Dagg -
fuck that is a good Crusaders team.
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Pretty much what ACT and I agreed on, except Dagg is benched and Bridge will start.
In last year's NPC Final, one of Razor's key plans was to rattle Marty Banks and (unfortunately) it worked. Though this time Marty will be getting the ball from Aaron Smith instead of Billy Guyton and will have Rob Thompson helping him instead of hassling him.
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@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs. Highlanders:
Pretty much what ACT and I agreed on, except Dagg is benched and Bridge will start.
In last year's NPC Final, one of Razor's key plans was to rattle Marty Banks and (unfortunately) it worked. Though this time Marty will be getting the ball from Aaron Smith instead of Billy Guyton and will have Rob Thompson helping him instead of hassling him.
Good to see Razor is listening to the faithful
Expect to see Crotty and Todd putting that same sort of pressure on Marty.
Against the Rebels we played extremely flat in attack with a high number of offloads. Rebels were far too passive in defence. I expect us to be a little more conventional against the Landers defence which is solid in the pack and excellent in the midfield.
It will be interesting to see how Razor uses Dagg in the second half.
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Matt Todd and Sam Whitelock excellent over the ball.
Been watching Moody closely and he covers a lot of ground in defence.
Landers attack a little predictable so far.
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Dumb play.
Saders down to 14.
