Crusaders aren’t risking big guns

The Crusaders side that will play the Hurricanes in a pre-season match on Sunday has been announced, and it appears that coach Todd Blackadder is saving the franchises real power for later.

The team announced features seven players that will make their debut for the club – Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Dominic Bird, Shane Christie, Jordan Taufua, Jeremy Su’a and Kieran Fonotia.

Other familiar names include Tyler Bleyendaal, George Whitelock, Tom Marshal’, and Robbie Fruean, who must be knocking on the door of the All Blacks camp.

Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 James Schrader, 13 Kieran Fonotia, 12 Robbie Fruean, 11 Shayne Anderson, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Jeremy Su’a, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Shane Christie, 6 George Whitelock (captain), 5 Joel Everson, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements – from: Paea Fa’anunu, Adrian Barone, Mitch Graham, Ben Funnell, Jimmy Tupou, Matt Simons, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, Andy Ellis, Tyrone Elkington, Kolio Hifo, Stephen Burt.