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Cape Town - As they prepare to host the Stormers in a Super Rugby clash Christchurch, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has noted some improvements from the Cape side.
The Stormers, who employed New Zealander Paul Feeney as their skills coach in the off-season, have impressed with their attacking play in 2017.
The Stormers won their first six matches before coming unstuck against the Lions at home last weekend.
"Their counter-attack has definitely changed - that's the biggest thing they've evolved as a group. They've got some players who are backing themselves and backing their skills,” Robertson was quoted as saying on the New Zealand Herald website.
Robertson, however, noted that the Stormers were still a formidable outfit in the engine room.
“They've scored a lot of tries off that (counter-attacking) but they've still got their strengths - their scrum and lineout which is very strong,” he said.
"It's going to be one our biggest tests physically. It's their first match on tour and if they can knock us off that would be pretty special for them. They only lost by a point when they were last here three years ago.”
The Stormers have never beaten the Crusaders in Christchurch and lost 14-13 in their last outing there in 2014.
Saturday’s clash is scheduled for 09:35 (SA time).
Teams:
Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele
Stormers
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel
