Injury-plagued All Blacks star returns to action for Crusaders
Crusaders and All Blacks back-row Ethan Blackadder.
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has named his squad for the first of two home games to close out the regular season with All Blacks back-row Ethan Blackadder returning from injury for Saturday’s clash with the Blues.
Blackadder has been plagued by numerous injuries in recent years but has been ruled fit to face the Crusaders’ arch-rivals and comes into the starting line-up on the openside flank.
Horrific run of injuries
The 29-year-old’s horrific run of injuries has seen him suffering shoulder, calf, quad and thigh issues since 2022.
He was ruled out for the bulk of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign after struggling with shoulder and thigh injuries but returned to action against the Waratahs in Round Eight and also featured in the Crusaders‘ next two matches, against the Western Force and the Melbourne Rebels.
However, he was a late withdrawal in the build-up to the Round 11 defeat against the Reds, after a mishap at training, and was also sidelined for the Crusaders’ subsequent losses to the Highlanders and Brumbies.
Blackadder replaces Tom Christie in the Crusaders’ run-on side as one of two changes and joins fellow flanker Cullen Grace and number eight Christian Lio-Willie in the back-row.
The only other change is in the backline where Levi Aumua returns at outside centre at the expense of Jone Rova. Aumua forms a midfield partnership with David Havili while Fergus Burke and Noah Hotham continue as the starting half-backs.
The backline is completed by Johnny McNicholl, who lines up at full-back, and the starting wings Chay Fihaki and Sevu Reece.
Meanwhile, experienced hooker Codie Taylor continues as captain and he is joined in the front-row by fellow All Blacks Joe Moody and Fletcher Newell, who are the starting props.
The pack is completed by Quinten Strange and Antonio Shalfoon, who will make his second run-on appearance for the defending champions.
On the bench, All Blacks duo George Bower and Tamaiti Williams are the back-up props alongside George Bell, who is the reserve hooker while Jamie Hannah and Christie are the rest of the forward replacements.
Mitch Drummond, Taha Kemara and Dallas McLeod have been named as the backline cover.
Crusaders team face Blues
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Tamaiti Williams, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Tom Christie, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Dallas McLeod
Date: Saturday, May 25
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin (New Zealand), Fraser Hannon (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Hart (New Zealand)
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