Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has named three All Blacks forwards among the reserves for the return Super Rugby match against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
All Blacks captain and No.8 Kieran Read, lock Luke Romano, and loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett had a heavy workload in the recent three-Test series against France and will have minor rather than major parts to play against the bottom-placed Highlanders.
A fourth All Blacks forward, tighthead prop Owen Franks, is also missing because of an elbow infection, leaving lock Sam Whitelock as the only regular international in the Crusaders pack, although flanker Matt Todd made his debut in the third Test.
Two key All Blacks backs, fullback Israel Dagg and five-eighth Dan Carter, will start as the Crusaders strive for a second win over the Highlanders this season after winning the first match in Christchurch in April 24-8.
George Whitelock has been reinstated as Crusaders captain in Read’s absence and the 73-cap Crusader said after the team’s training on Thursday that Blackadder’s decision to rest some of his returning All Blacks had been telegraphed.
“Toddy said to the (non All Blacks) group from the start that there was an opportunity for us to play if we put our hands up and he’s rewarded those players.”
The Crusaders were off their game in a hit-out against the Hurricanes in Levin last Friday, losing 38-17, and Whitelock was unhappy with their work at the breakdown.
“We were quite inaccurate and we know that’s the strength of the Highlanders game so we really have to be on song there.
“You look back to their game against the Blues and they really destroyed them for the whole 80 minutes. We’re not expecting anything different – their tails are up and they’ve had three weeks to think about it.”
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Tom Donnelly, Nepo Laulala, Ben Funnell, Joe Moody. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett, Luke Romano, Kieran Read, Willi Heinz, Robbie Fruean, Adam Whitelock.