Crusaders rotate pack for Lions

Cape Town - Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has made three changes to his team to face the Lions in a Super Rugby match in Johannesburg on Friday (19:00 kick-off).

Prop Wyatt Crockett wears the No 1 jersey this week, rotating with Joe Moody who will take a spot on the bench.

Luke Romano and Scott Barrett are the starting locks, with Sam Whitelock among the reserves.

Jimmy Tupou and Jordan Taufua have also rotated, with Tupou starting at six this week and Taufua preparing to make an impact off the bench.

The starting backline is unchanged from last week, but Sean Wainui joins the reserves to make a 5/3 forwards/backs split on the bench.

Teams:

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies/Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira/Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith

Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Crusaders

15 David Havili, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jimmy Tupou, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett

Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Sean Wainui