SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC, ROUND 12, 2023 CRUSADERS v BLUES, MAY 13TH
ORANGETHEORY STADIUM,CHRISTCHURCH,NZ
The Crusaders and the Blues meet in the match of round 12 in a clash between last year’s Super Rugby Pacific finalists in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Scott Robertson’s side, of course, claimed another title last season and need a result to improve their position in the top four, who will all host quarterfinals in June.
The Blues are third, one point ahead of the Crusaders in fourth, and the Hurricanes are another point behind in fifth.
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock is a notable absentee from the Crusaders’ side to face the Blues in a blockbuster rematch of last year’s final.
Whitelock hasn’t recovered from the Achilles injury suffered against the Chiefs last month, meaning head coach Scott Robertson’s troops will go into battle without the man who was instrumental in their victory against the Blues at Eden Park earlier this season.
Whitelock could be a couple of weeks away yet, and will again be replaced by Quinten Strange in the second row this weekend.
Elsewhere, Jack Goodhue returns to the 23 and will come off the bench after missing last week’s game with a lingering knee complaint, while Dallas McLeod is back from a shoulder injury and will start on the right wing.
Flanker Ethan Blackadder (calf) is still a couple of weeks away from returning.
CRUSADERS.
Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (c), Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody.
RESERVES. Brodie McAlister, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Oli Jager, Zach Gallagher, Sione Havili Talitui, Noah Hotham, Fergus Burke, Jack Goodhue.
BLUES.
Zarn Sullivan, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie; Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii (capt), Adrian Choat, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu, Marcel Renata, Ricky Riccitelli, Ofa Tuungafasi.
RESERVES. Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, James Lay, Cameron Suafoa, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, AJ Lam.
Departing midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck remains on the outer with the Blues ahead of Saturday’s pivotal Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Crusaders, while Akira Ioane will make his 100th appearance for the franchise off the bench.
In selecting his strongest possible lineup to face the Crusaders in a pivotal clash in Christchurch on Saturday night, coach Leon MacDonald has continued his preference for Harry Plummer at second five-eighths in a midfield partnership with All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane.
Adrian Choat and Hoskins Sotutu return to join captain Dalton Papalii in the back-row while experienced All Black Patrick Tuipulotu links up with Sam Darry in the second-row.
Up front, Ricky Riccitelli is back at hooker and packs down alongside Marcel Renata and Ofa Tuungafasi, who are the starting props.
In the backline, Zarn Sullivan and Mark Telea are back in the starting XV to start at full-back and on the right wing respectively and Caleb Clarke continues on the left wing.
Harry Plummer shifts from fly-half to inside centre and forms a midfield combination with Rieko Ioane while Beauden Barrett is back in the number 10 jersey alongside Finlay Christie who starts at scrum-half.
There is no place in the 23 at all for a fit-again Tuivasa-Sheck, who started at No 12 in last week’s nailbiting, yet unflattering, 31-30 victory over Moana Pasifika at Eden Park.
The 2022 All Black, who has announced he is returning to rugby league next season, misses out on even a bench post with Bryce Heem covering midfield off the pine. The other contentious call sees rugged flanker Adrian Choat once again preferred at No 6, even with All Black Akira Ioane now well over the knee injury that took him out for the first chunk of the season.
The 21-test international remains as the Blues’ impact loosie off the bench, even for his milestone match.
MacDonald said Ioane’s milestone was “a serious achievement and testament to the fact he’s kept his fitness and body in good order over many seasons. ”He showed his value last weekend against Moana Pasifika, and we’ll be looking to him for impact down in Christchurch. His ball-playing skills are well-documented, and he often finds an offload where others can’t.”
PREDICTION.
The Blues will be a tough nut to crack and while the Crusaders have not reached their full potential yet this season they have shown enough for me to back them as the winner in Christchurch . Red and Blacks by 5 points.
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