All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg will wear the number 13 jersey for the Crusaders in Friday's Super Rugby pre-season outing against the Highlanders in Oamaru.
Dagg's midfield partner Ryan Crotty will lead the side which also includes a Wyatt Crockett and Luke Romano.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has also named winger Telusa Veainu in the team after being called up as injury cover for the depleting outside backs.
Blackadder is already missing Zac Guildford, who has withdrawn indefinitely from Super Rugby in a bid to resolve the alcohol-related issues that have dogged his career.
And former Highlanders winger Kurt Baker, seen as Guildford's logical replacement, is out for six weeks after tearing a hamstring at the Wellington Sevens last weekend
Veainu was a member of the last three winning Canterbury teams in the ITM Cup and has also been part of the Highlanders wider training squad.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Israel Dagg, 12 Ryan Crotty (c), 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Shane Christie, 6 Luke Whitelock, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Pa'ea Fa'anunu, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements (from): Tyler Blyendaal, Matt Todd, Kieran Fonotia, George Whitelock, Mitch Graham, Joel Everson, Telusa Veainu, Robbie Fruean, Willi Heinz, Jeremy Su'a, Jimmy Tupou, Joe Moody, Adrian Barone, Codie Taylor.
Comments
ruck_man7 says...
I just hope he doesn't injure himself. 13 is a position that requires a specialist and not a utility player.
Anyways it's great to see johnny mcnicholl on the wing. Had a superb season for Canterbury, hope it translates well into the crusaders
Posted 23:28 08th February 2013
ferdie says...
little relevance to these pre-season matches, and no bearing on how the season will play out. Last week Kirwan gave 18 players their first start for the Blues (v Reds), and left his top 10 senior squad players home.
Just a training run in the long-term.
The Hurricanes play their annual 'farm match' on 16th, this time v Chiefs, on a farm paddock converted for the day at Mangatainoka (population 1800) 150km north of Wellington. Temp stands put up for the game, and already sold out 8,000 people.
Posted 12:14 06th February 2013
passtheball says...
atg77 - forgot Cullen - the worst decision of the lot! Mils was a very good player anywhere but those selections were all brainless. Dagg would need to lose some ego to become a centre in the mold of BOD, Conrad Smith or that superb supplier of wings - Joe Stanley. His "me first" approach makes him highly predictable.
Posted 11:45 06th February 2013
GoWalesGo says...
He's probably just trying him out there in case they have some injury problems during the year.
I wouldn't start getting hysterical, it's only a pre season match.
Posted 10:59 06th February 2013
spoons says...
@ passtheball: don't forget about one of the games greatest ever fullbacks Christian Cullen being shifted to centre in 99.
Posted 05:13 06th February 2013
three6three6 says...
There is no doubt that Dagg has proven pedigree playing at no. 15. The notion that he might also be a world class 10 or 13 is simply misplaced at this time of his career.... Yes, Dagg does have experience of popping up at 'first receiver' and in the centres during international matches BUT does not yet have the full repertoire of skills to be world class in these positions...
I tend to agree with the suggestion that Dagg should be either wearing no. 15 or on the bench. The requirements of 10, 13 and 15 are sufficiently different to suggest that ONLY Superman (or Dan Carter) could cover all three positions to a very high standard.
Posted 04:47 06th February 2013
Cdn_content says...
Well this worked really well when Mitchell moved Cullen to 13. Hey wait a minute...
Posted 04:22 06th February 2013
atg77 says...
@passthe ball... and contributing to 3 world cup failures because of it. Cullen '99, Macdonald '03 and Muliena in '07 all had disasterous consequences... full backs out of position in center. You'd think New Zealand coaches would have learned their lesson by now...
Posted 00:48 06th February 2013
capedcrusader says...
He'll be playing 13 simply to allow Fruean to be managed & to allow Marshall at 15. Crotty/Taylor/Fruean/Whitelock will be the centres.
JayStarr It's a warm up match at the end of the day the result is irrelevant. Marshall possibly to get more game time prob on the wing this season unless the likes of Whitelock show form when given the chance. Looking forward to seeing McNicholl
Posted 20:44 05th February 2013
shrimps says...
wow, this will be great. i do actually agree with you carpelone about dagg for fly half, in fact, i think that he would also be better there than 13. he has fantastic running, some of the best in the world but also, he can see where other people are going to and knows when to pass them the ball. i understand he can also do that reasonably at 13, if not as good as at 10.
Posted 20:11 05th February 2013
TheRoof says...
Another woeful coaching decision, considering they have Kieran Fonotia on the bench. Great news that Telusa Veainu is now in the squad. A quality outside back - better than Adam Whitelock for mine. Your best attacking player is your fullback, isn't he???
Posted 20:00 05th February 2013
NHsaints says...
he's a fullback through and through, the only fullback in the world who I think could potentially make a better 13 than fullback is Ben Foden, Israel Dagg has too much pace and flair to be cramping up in a centers position...although I could well be proven wrong...
Posted 19:04 05th February 2013
JayStarr says...
I'm sorry, but now Todd Blackadder has lost the plot. Why on earth would you want to move the world's best full-back to outside centre !? I love Tom Marshall, but if you want to give him game time then put Dagg on the bench or give him the day off. Now you're just interfering with his preparation for the season by disturbing his focus and putting unncecessary pressure on him. He's not going to be a brilliant 13 in one game; if they're lucky he'll be 'good' - but it is more likely that he will not be good and that he loses confidence and focus.
Stupid move. But keep making them Todd - then the Stormers stand a better chance.
Posted 18:13 05th February 2013
davodiablo says...
@Carpelone Compared to him playing 15..but never ordinary.
Posted 17:51 05th February 2013
carpelone says...
But Mils was quite ordinary at 13, wasn't he?
Alexisonfire
yes, and imagine the threat he would pose as first receiver.
Posted 17:13 05th February 2013
ABasquefan says...
And last friday Fruean played as 12. Is Blackladder going to play with the pair Fruean-Dagg at the centers? The AB style of the last years with a strong 12 who strikes the defeses and a more creative 13 to organize both defense and attack? And, in that case, who will play outside? 11. Mc Nicholl, 14. A. Whitelock/k. Baker(when fit) 15. Marshall? ...... too many questions
Posted 15:04 05th February 2013
passtheball says...
The great NZ tradition of playing a fullback(McDonald, Mils) at 13 continues.
Posted 13:19 05th February 2013
capedcrusader says...
Rubbish he is a full back and always has been. Tom Taylor you might remember plays fly half and can certainly hold his own. Stormers game ring any bells
Posted 12:32 05th February 2013
alexisonfire says...
@Carpelone: Fly-half does seem to make sense as I believe he was a fly-half when he played for the Highlanders. Wasn't too shabby at place kicking either.
Posted 10:09 05th February 2013
carpelone says...
It would be a position from where he would learn a lot, but I do not see him there. I would give him a run at fly half.
Izzy, please keep your mouth shut.
Posted 09:21 05th February 2013