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CONFIRMED: Crusaders name side for Super Rugby Final

Only one near horse trampling fatality since the franchise launched.

An unchanged BNZ Crusaders team will take on the Lions in the 2017 Investec Super Rugby Grand Final this weekend.

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Head Coach Scott Robertson said it was great to be able to have consistency in the team throughout the finals series: “A squad of 25, which included the 23 who played in the quarter and semi-finals, travelled to Johannesburg at the start of the week and all players are fit and available for selection this weekend, which is awesome.

“We have settled in really well in Johannesburg and we are building the week nicely towards Saturday afternoon’s big clash. We love Finals week, it is why we play,” Robertson said.

Kick-off at Emirates Airline Park is at 4pm this Saturday afternoon local time, or live on Sky Sport NZ at 2am Sunday New Zealand time.

BNZ Crusaders team to play the Lions:

1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Scott Barrett
5. Sam Whitelock (C)
6. Jordan Taufua
7. Matt Todd (VC)
8. Kieran Read
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mo’unga
11. Seta Tamanivalu
12. Ryan Crotty (VC)
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Israel Dagg
15. David Havili

RESERVES
16. Ben Funnell
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Michael Alaalatoa
19. Luke Romano
20. Pete Samu
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Mitchell Hunt
23. George Bridge

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Nickers 20 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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