Crusaders hammer blow as All Blacks powerhouse misses Blues showdown while ‘underdogs’ make key change
The teams for the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final on Friday have been named.
The Crusaders have been dealt a hammer blow for their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Blues on Friday, with prop Tamaiti Williams ruled out.
The All Blacks front-rower has been in sterling form of late but misses the last-four encounter after sustaining a concerning knee injury in the Qualifying Final fixture against the Queensland Reds.
Crusaders team
Williams is replaced in the starting XV by fellow international prop George Bower who features in an All Blacks front-row featuring hooker Codie Taylor and tighthead Fletcher Newell.
Scott Barrett and Antonio Shalfoon start in the second-row yet again, while Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie and Christian Lio-Willie are named as the starting loose forwards.
The remainder of the Crusaders team bidding to reach the Super Rugby Pacific final remains unchanged, with starting half-backs Noah Hotham and Rivez Reihana. David Havili captains the side from the centres along with Braydon Ennor, while Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki and Will Jordan complete the backline.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin comes onto the bench to fill Bower’s role and provides front-row cover with hooker George Bell and tighthead Seb Calder. Jamie Hannah and Cullen Grace are the back-five replacements, while Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor will look to make an impact with Kyle Preston and Dallas McLeod.
Blues make key change
Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed ‘underdogs’, the Blues, have made just one change to their starting XV, with Zarn Sullivan starting at full-back and he replaces Corey Evans in the number 15 jersey.
Sullivan starts in a back three with Mark Tele’a and Caleb Clarke, while AJ Lam and Rieko Ioane start in the centres. Finlay Christie and Beauden Barrett are the starting half-backs once again.
The pack is unchanged with Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, and Adrian Choat named as the back-rowers. Captain Patrick Tuipulotu packs down in the second row and is partnered by Laghlan McWhannell.
In form props, Marcel Renata and Joshua Fusitu’a start either side of hooker Ricky Riccitelli.
Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer and Cole Forbes make up the Blues’ bench.
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Crusaders v Blues
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Date: Friday, June 13
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Paul Williams and Fraser Hannon
TMO: Richard Kelly
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