Crusaders ring changes for Highlanders

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has made ten changes to the starting line-up for the clash with the Highlanders at AMI Stadium on Saturday.

The entire front row has changed, with Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks starting, and Wyatt Crockett, Mike Alaalatoa and Ben Funnell sitting on the bench.

The other changes in the forwards are at lock, with Luke Romano staring and Quinten Strange shifting to the reserves, and at loose forward with Matt Todd returning at number seven in place of Pete Samu.

In the backs, Mitchell Drummond starts at scrum-half this week.  George Bridge and Seta Tamanivalu take the wings, and Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue start at inside centre and outside centre respectively. Bryn Hall will cover scrum-half while Mitchell Hunt and Israel Dagg will cover the rest of the back line.

The last time the Crusaders and Highlanders played each other was in round two of the season, and the Crusaders snatched a last minute win down in Dunedin.  The Crusaders have won every game since, while the Highlanders have dropped just one game since and won their last nine in a row.

Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Jed Brown, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Israel Dagg

Date: Saturday, June 3
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-Off: 14:45 local (03:35 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Referees: James Doleman Michael Winter
TMO: Glenn Newman