Crusaders v Highlanders: Teams
All Black lock Brad Thorn has been named on the bench for the Crusaders' clash with the Highlanders in Christchurch.
Last Updated: 12/02/10 11:37am
All Black lock Brad Thorn has been named on the bench for the Crusaders' clash with the Highlanders in Christchurch.
Adam Whitelock has got the nod to partner Isaac Ross in the second row - with Thorn needing more preparation before he will be available to play the full 80 minutes.
The Crusaders will be without Richie McCaw for the match, with Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn, Chris Jack, Ryan Crotty and Kade Poki also sidelined.
Coach Todd Blackadder has been able to include the All Black contingent of Ben and Owen Franks, Ross, George Whitelock and captain Kieran Read.
The Highlanders have handed Matt Berquist the No.10 jersey for the trip to the AMI Stadium.
Israel Dagg starts at full-back, with Ben Smith on the wing, so there is no place for rising Southland's star Robbie Robinson.
Crusaders:15 Colin Slade, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Robert Fruean, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Kieran Read, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Tii Paulo, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Peter Borlase, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Sean Maitland.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg. 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 James Paterson, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 John Hardie, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Fetu'u Vainikolo.
