Crusaders rest All Blacks for Waratahs clash

All Blacks lock Scott Barrett will captain a new-look Crusaders side in their Super Rugby opener against the Waratahs in Nelson on Saturday.

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has opted to rest All Blacks George Bridge (wing) and Joe Moody (loosehead prop) for this fixture, while fellow internationals Codie Taylor (hooker), Luke Romano (lock) and Sevu Reece (wing) have been named on the replacements bench.

Will Jordan and Leicester Faingaanuku have taken Bridge and Reece’s spots on the wings and they are joined in the back three by experienced full-back David Havili.

Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor line up in midfield while All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga forms a half-back combination with Mitchell Drummond.

Is there anything better than watching Scott Barrett gallop 50 metres down the field to score a try? 🤷‍♂️

Get yourself in the mood for the 2020 season by watching all 82 tries scored by @crusadersrugby in 2019.

🎥👉 https://t.co/mm2KnhxRfj#SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/IEGP6M7wd8

— Super Rugby NZ (@SuperRugbyNZ) January 30, 2020

In the forwards, Barrett is joined in the second-row by Mitchell Dunshea and Andrew Makalio (hooker) packs down in the front-row alongside prop Oliver Jager and George Bower.

Whetu Douglas starts at number eight while Tom Sanders and Tom Christie are the two flankers.

Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Leicester Faingaanuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Oliver Jager, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Sevu Reece

Date: Saturday, February 1
Venue: Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Kick-off: 19:05 local (06:05 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Dan Waenga (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)