BNZ Crusaders team to play the Rebels

Jul 7 • General News, International, Super Rugby • 1472 Views • Comments Off on BNZ Crusaders team to play the Rebels

Sam Whitelock will lead the BNZ Crusaders onto the field when they face the Rebels this Saturday night, as both team captain and the latest Crusaders centurion. Whitelock will bring up his ton in front of a home crowd, with the team returning to AMI Stadium for the first time in seven weeks.

BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder has made four changes to the starting fifteen that played the Chiefs in Fiji last week.

In the forwards, Alex Hodgman moves into the number 1 jersey, while Wyatt Crockett takes a spot on the bench. Jimmy Tupou will start at number 8 this week, with Kieran Read sitting this match out. Luke Romano will provide lock cover for Whitelock and Scott Barrett, while Pete Samu joins the bench as loose forward support.

In the backs, Ryan Crotty returns to the team at centre, and Johnny McNicholl will take the right wing. Kieron Fonotia will prepare to make an impact off the bench this week and Mitchell Hunt will join the reserves for the second week in a row, giving him the opportunity to earn his first Crusaders cap if he makes the field.

The BNZ Crusaders and Rebels and kick off at 7:35pm on Saturday night at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium. Tickets are available through www.ticketdirect.co.nz, ph. 0800 224 224 or visit participating branches of The Warehouse. Ticket purchasers are encouraged to also fill up at Mobil this week so that they can enter the Mobil Golden Boots halftime competition and kick their way to $250k – more information is available at www.goldenboots.co.nz

BNZ Crusaders team to play the Rebels:

1. Alex Hodgman	RESERVES:
2. Codie Taylor	16. Ben Funnell
3. Owen Franks	17. Wyatt Crockett
4. Scott Barrett	18. Mike Alaalatoa
5. Sam Whitelock (C)	19. Luke Romano
6. Jordan Taufua	20. Pete Samu
7. Matt Todd	21. Mitchell Drummond
8. Jimmy Tupou	22. Mitch Hunt
9. Andy Ellis	23. Kieron Fonotia
10. Richie Mo’unga
11. Nemani Nadolo
12. David Havili
13. Ryan Crotty
14. Johnny McNicholl
15. Israel Dagg