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Cape Town - Blues coach John Kirwan has recalled some All Black heavyweights for his team's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 09:35 SA time.
Kirwan made four changes from the starting XV that beat the Rebels 36-32 last weekend.
Hooker Keven Mealamu, lock Culum Retallick and flank Luke Braid all return, while in the backline Francis Saili drops to the bench and is replaced at inside centre by Jackson Willison.
The seven-time champion Crusaders are currently third in the New Zealand Conference and sixth in the Overall standings. The Blues meanwhile find themselves in second and fifth in the two logs, respectively.
Teams:
Crusaders:
15 Tom Taylor, Tom Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Willi Heinz, 20 Adam Whitelock, 21 Israel Dagg
Blues:
15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams (captain), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tim Perry
Substitutes: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Francis Saili
Kick-off is at 09:35 SA time.
Kirwan made four changes from the starting XV that beat the Rebels 36-32 last weekend.
Hooker Keven Mealamu, lock Culum Retallick and flank Luke Braid all return, while in the backline Francis Saili drops to the bench and is replaced at inside centre by Jackson Willison.
The seven-time champion Crusaders are currently third in the New Zealand Conference and sixth in the Overall standings. The Blues meanwhile find themselves in second and fifth in the two logs, respectively.
Teams:
Crusaders:
15 Tom Taylor, Tom Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Willi Heinz, 20 Adam Whitelock, 21 Israel Dagg
Blues:
15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams (captain), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tim Perry
Substitutes: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Francis Saili
