Powerful Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean believes the prospect of the Otago Rugby Union going into liquidation on Friday will only steel the Highlanders’ resolve for their Super Rugby match in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Both the Crusaders and the Highlanders opened their campaigns with narrow wins, over the Blues and the Chiefs respectively, and with bragging rights at stake, the southern derby is always a battle of attrition.
The Highlanders have won three of the past five matches, including a 26-18 victory in their last outing at Nelson last April.
“It is sad what is going on down there but it will only give them more motivation,” Fruean said after the Crusaders’ final training on Thursday.
“If that happened to me and my union, I would want to get out there and play my best for my province.”
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder concurred.
“I’m sure everyone is hurting and no doubt they’ll want to prove a point and show their community that rugby is very much a part of it.”
Blackadder initially named the same starting line-up that overcame the Blues 19-18 in Auckland last Friday, but centres Ryan Crotty had a recurrence of a hamstring strain at training and is replaced by Adam Whitelock.
Disgraced All Black Zac Guildford comes into the reserves after serving a four-match suspension in the wake of a booze-fuelled rampage in the Cook Islands.
Fruean said the change to the midfield combination would pose no problems as all three had been working hard at training to build a reliable relationship.
Fruean, the Crusaders’ lone try-scorer against the Blues, said he was keen to oppose former All Black Tamati Ellison, who received rave reviews after his performance on his Highlanders debut against the Chiefs.
They had played alongside each other at the Norths club in Wellington and Fruean held him in high regard.
Updated Crusaders side to face the Highlanders: Tom Marshall, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Adam Whitelock, Israel Dagg, Tyler Bleyendaal, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Samuel Whitelock, Tom Donnelly, Ben Franks, Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Luke Whitelock, Willie Heinz, Patrick Osborne, Zac Guildford.
