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Codie Taylor returns for Crusaders in team to host Reds

Codie Taylor and George Bell of the All Blacks. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

The Crusaders will have the services of All Black Codie Taylor when they host the Reds in Christchurch this weekend.

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The hooker has been absent from the season to date as he rehabs a hamstring injury, but is fot and firing for his season debut against the unbeaten Australian heavyweights.

It’s the first trans-Tasman contest of the year for the Crusaders, who split their opening two games with a win against the Hurricanes and a loss against the Chiefs before their bye week in round three.

“They’ve been managing me quite well here and I’m feeling good now and ready to get back out there,” Taylor said. 

“Me and the assault bike have become best friends over the last couple of weeks and I’m quite happy I can hopefully say goodbye to him for a wee while.” 

The only other change to the starting XV is the inclusion of Dallas McLeod in the midfield, the one-time All Black lines up outside captain David Havili and replaces Levi Aumua in the No 13 jersey.

The contest will be a special one for former Wallaby and Queensland Reds playmaker James O’Connor, who has again been named on the bench to face his old squad.

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“They’re coming off two good wins, they’ll be full of confidence, and they’ll be coming here to do a job,” O’Connor says. 

The 64-time Wallaby went on to share his thoughts on what has been a lung-busting season to date.

“Everyone is talking about how high scoring the competition is, it’s because they’re speeding the game up, there’s more fatigue out there, even for me as a goal kicker, I’m still getting my breath and I’m getting the 10-second call to kick the ball.” 

“I’m enjoying it, there’s more attacking pictures and for the fans it must be pretty cool to watch.” 

The contest is set for a Sunday afternoon kickoff time, something Crusaders head coach Rob Penney was looking forward to.

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“Afternoon footy is so exciting for fans to get out and get in the sun and watch it live – it’s fabulous for families to get out and enjoy an afternoon at their favourite sport.” 

Related

Crusaders team to play the Reds

  1. Tamaiti Williams 
  2. Codie Taylor 
  3. Fletcher Newell 
  4. Scott Barrett 
  5. Antonio Shalfoon 
  6. Cullen Grace 
  7. (VC) Ethan Blackadder 
  8. Christian Lio-Willie 
  9. Kyle Preston 
  10. Taha Kemara 
  11. Sevu Reece 
  12. (C) David Havili 
  13. Dallas McLeod 
  14. Chay Fihaki 
  15. (VC) Will Jordan

Reserves

16. Ioane Moananu
17. George Bower
18. Sam Matenga
19. Tahlor Cahill
20. Corey Kellow
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. James O’Connor
23. Levi Aumua 

Injury status

Rivez REIHANA   Ankle
1 week 

Seb CALDER   AC Joint
1 week 

Quin STRANGE   Pec/Hamstring
1 week 

Jamie HANNAH   Shoulder (surgery)
1 week 

Aki TUIVAILALA   Finger (surgery)
1 week 

Dom GARDINER   Hamstring
3-5 weeks 

Johnny McNICHOLL   Hamstring
3-5 weeks 

Kershawl SYKES-MARTIN   Medial ligament (knee)
4 weeks 

Noah HOTHAM   Ankle
5 weeks 

George BELL   Planter plate (foot)
16-20 weeks 

Finaly BREWIS   Shoulder (surgery)
Out for the season 

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Comments

3 Comments
G
GP 31 days ago

Looking forward to Taha Kemara having another great game at 10. He has built on his game with more game time. Playing ouside our break through Player of the Year Kyle Preston . Scored 3 tries on his debut off the bench 3 weeks ago. Another outstanding young halfback , Noah Hotham, back soon from injury.

G
GP 32 days ago

Also 2 outstanding vice captains there , in brilliant fullback Will Jordan and one of the form loose forwards of this comp Ethan Blackadder. The latter is part of a great loose forward trio with Cullen Grace and Christian Lio-Willie. Grace is o playing great rugby.

G
GP 32 days ago

So good having one of hooking greats Codie Taylor back for the Crusaders.He is a great player and leader. Powerful pack named. Ioane Moananu has done a great job while Codie has been out and brings impact off the bench.Pleased to see Dallas McLeod joining outstanding player and captain David Havili in midfield.

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JW 2 hours ago
'I feel for the players': Jamie Joseph's reflection on falling short again

Some great leadership quality from Big Jim, he facilitated for large parts then put the responsibility on himself at the end drive the team forward in the last desperate minutes. He also filled in for Withy extremely well, adding real strength to the maul.


The Force have been playing very well this year indeed, and their stars did make a couple of key players, the main factor though is definitely what I reported in the previous article “

Gotta say I’m really enjoying the Highlanders desperation in the last 10 minutes of games, maybe it’s just because theyre having to throw the kitchen sink at it again. Another massive effort to hold the opposition out just like in the Blues game. I’m sure the coach’s will be wanting a little more composure though as the play seems to far more hap hazard (really just the type of footy I like watching) than the picture they bring at the beggining of games.

Again though they don’t have the refs to thank for anything, being down a man twenty more minutes than they should have been. Most importantly they were without one of they best attackers (not counting Tangitau’s early change) for the final push, with Nareki’s bin.

Again, I can see where this team is trying to go, I hope they can get their this year as they certainly have the game to be a top four team if they click. They are munch of misfits when you look at it objectively though, they probably have the worst cohesion score of any SRP team. A few more wins, maybe a come from behind upset may be the best theey can hope to acheive this year.

“. Like Jim I thought the defence stood up strongly for large parts, but they may just have some structural issues, where it’s just not paying off. They had Lawaqa on the wing all day, allowed the Force to make a dozen linebreaks, why? Both there attack and defence look a bit too fancy for me, why? Common Joseph, the youngest team with the least cohesion/most new guys, it look overly complicated.


I hope it clicks. Manson in particular looked to be trying far too hard when he came on, what’s been said in his ear? Stick to you lane son and don’t make any mistakes, don’t lose the game for your team. Should be a comfortable win next week against Drua if they keep there heads up and come back stronger. Lasaqa might be best to come off the bench, would keep Jim at 12 but I’d like Tele’a to come back to the side, though TUJ hasn’t been bad and style might suit Drua more. Hopefully Renton or someone with some size is at 8 or 6, Lasaqa appears to be more an 8 actually, similar to Sititi and I wouldn’t mind if he was groomed behind him and Sotutu. Lennox I thought could make a good halfback but isn’t ready, I’d hope Arscott, Fakatava, or Pledger could return to the side. Other than Drua theyve got Cheifs twice, though the home game is the last of the round/season so potentially a gimme if the Chiefs repeat previous years tactics. The Crusaders and Moana at home are also very doable. Those four wins could see them crash into the top 6 still.

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