Crusaders name unchanged side

The Crusaders have been boosted by the news that Kieran Read and Owen Franks have been passed fit to face the Lions in the Super Rugby final in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The pair were doubtful after Read limped off with a knee injury with 10 minutes to go and Franks was taken off at half-time with an Achilles niggle in the Crusaders' 27-13 win over the Chiefs in the semi-final in Christchurch last weekend.

But the duo have now been declared fit and will start against the Lions. This means that Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has named the same side that overcame the Chiefs.

Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Seta Tamanivalu, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody 
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 George Bridge

Date: Saturday, August 5
Venue: Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 16:00 local (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson, Marius van der Westhuizen
TMO: Marius Jonker