The Highlanders might be a distant last on the Super Rugby points table but Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is reading nothing into that ahead of their southern showdown in Christchurch on Saturday.
While Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph and his team are under fire after seven straight losses, Blackadder said he empathised with his embattled counterpart after the Crusaders suffered a shock 16-14 loss to the Force last week.
That defeat dropped the seven-time champions to ninth on the log and fourth in the New Zealand conference, leaving their campaign hanging on the precipice.
“I know how Jamie feels because that’s exactly how we feel,” Blackadder said.
“But I don’t think that will come into their psyche this week.
“We’re almost brothers in that we know whoever turns up with the right game plan and the right mentality will beat the other team. They’re a good side and we respect them.”
Blackadder said that while the Highlanders were chasing their first win, the Force had managed only one before they upset his team.
“The Force were a lowly ranked side as well and we got well and truly beaten in some aspects of that game. This (Crusaders) team has to show more resolve than they did at the weekend and we can’t afford to make those errors.”
Although the Crusaders posted a record 51-18 win when the teams last met in Christchurch 10 months ago, the Highlanders had won four of their previous six clashes and often rise to the occasion for the South Island derby.
Three changes have been made to the team who lost to the Force.
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock and openside flanker Matt Todd return to the pack for Tom Donnelly and Shane Christie respectively, with Zac Guildford taking Adam Whitelock’s place on the left wing.
Whitelock will play his 50th Super Rugby match, as will brother Adam if the outside back is used off the reserve bench.
The Crusaders are still without two injured All Blacks stars – first five-eighth Dan Carter (hamstring) and No.8 Kieran Read (toe).
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Zac Guildford, Tyler Bleyendaal, Andy Ellis, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, George Whitelock (capt), Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Adam Whitelock.
