McCaw starts for Crusaders
2015-02-11 09:33
Christchurch - Crusaders coach Todd
Blackadder has named his team to tackle the Melbourne Rebels in Christchurch on Friday
(kick-off 08:35 SA time).
Richie McCaw will start for the Crusaders for the first time in 2015,
in one of three changes made to the starting line-up that played a warm-up game
against the Reds in Brisbane last week.
The other changes are Joe Moody starting in
the No 1 jersey and Ben Funnell at hooker.
Wyatt Crockett and Ryan Crotty also return
to the mix for the first time, looking for a start off the bench on Friday.
Blackadder said the team is chomping at the
bit to hit the field on Friday and get the 2015 competition underway.
“There is something special about this
season, with it being our 20th Crusade and Rugby World Cup year,” he told the
Crusaders’ official website. “So there is a real buzz within the team at the
moment, they are fired up for this season and ready to get it started.
“The Rebels have always been a tough
challenger for us so we know we’re going to have a real battle on Friday night.
It should be a good spectacle and a great way to kick this season off,”
Blackadder said.
Teams:
Crusaders:
15 Colin Slade, 14 Robbie Fruean, 13 Kieron
Fonotia, 12 Tom Taylor, 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Mitchell
Drummond, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd (captain), 6 Richie McCaw, 5 Dominic
Bird, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Alex
Hodgman, 18 Wyatt Crockett, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Billy
Guyton, 22 Ryan Crotty, 23 Nathaniel Apa
Rebels:
TBA