Dagg starts for Crusaders

Cape Town - All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg returns to the Crusaders starting XV for their Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.

Kick-off is at 09:35 SA time.

Dagg, who has been benched in recent weeks, gets his chance to start following a backline shuffle, which sees Tom Taylor shift to inside centre, while Robbie Fruean drops to the reserves.

Among the forwards, rookie hooker Codie Taylor is rotated with Ben Funnell, who himself was a last-minute replacement for Corey Flynn last weekend.

The Crusaders are second in the New Zealand Conference and fifth in the Overall standings, six points behind the defending champion Chiefs who currently top both logs.

Teams:

Chiefs:

15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Matt Vant Leven, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu

Substitutes: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Dan Waenga, 22 Lelia Masaga

Crusaders:

15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Tom Taylor, 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 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett

Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell/Laurence Corlett, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Robbie Fruean, 22 Telusa Vaianu