Hurricanes v Crusaders preview

The Hurricanes will face the Crusaders in Round 4 of the 2013 Super Rugby tournament in Wellington on Friday, 8 March 2013.

The team has only seen one position change, with Brad Shields and Victor Vito swapping position from last week, seeing Vito go into number 8 and Shields onto the blindside flank.

Vito and Dane Coles will each be celebrating their 50^th Super Rugby caps.

“These guys are proud Hurricanes and should enjoy the occasion as reaching your 50th cap is no small feat,” said Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett. “Both Colesy and Vic have worked extremely hard to get there and that’s why they have also achieved higher honours with the All Blacks. ”

“They know there is a job at hand, and being the kind of guys they are, that will be their only focus on Friday night,” said Hammett

The Crusaders, coming off a loss to the Blues in Round 3, will be looking to redeem themselves and live up to their Super Rugby legacy.

The team selected by the Crusaders features three changes to the starting fifteen that lost to the Blues.

Israel Dagg, who was denied a try last week, slips back from the wing into fullback, while Johnny McNicholl and Tom Marshall handle the wings.

Dominic Bird has been called up to step in for Luke Romano, who is out with a rib injury.

The Crusaders lacked any real punch against the Blues, and the Christchurch team will need to get the likes of Robbie Fruean involved in the attack.

The forwards, particularly Whitelock, Todd and Read, will have their hands full as they come up against the trio of Shields, Lowe and Vito – and that should be a critical aspect of the game.

Rugby Informer’s take: Both teams have come off losses last week and are yet to secure a win. The Hurricanes have a potent backline, but the Crusaders have vast All Black experience. It’s a bold call, but the Hurricanes have home-ground advantage and a backline that is clicking, while the Crusaders are struggling to find their rhythm. Hurricanes by 5.

Hurricanes team:

1. Ben Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Jason Eaton,6. Brad Shields, 7. Karl Lowe, 8. Victor Vito, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Conrad Smith (c), 14. Alapati Leiua, 15. Andre Taylor
Replacements: 16. Motu Matu’u / Ash Dixon,17. Ben May,18. James Broadhurst,19. Faifili Levave,20. Chris Smylie,21. James Marshall,22. Reynold Lee-Lo

Crusaders team:

15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Adam Whitelock.Southern Kings v Sharks