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Crusaders make one starting change as they search for first win of season

A general view is seen as the Crusaders stop for a drink during the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between Chiefs and Crusaders at FMG Stadium Waikato, on February 23, 2024, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

All Blacks centre David Havili will captain the Crusaders again this week when they take on arch-rivals the Blues at Eden Park, with both sides set to rock out in heritage jerseys for the Kiwi derby.

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Coach Rob Penney has made just the one change to the side that went down swinging in a thriller with the still-undefeated Hurricane last week with lock Jamie Hannah also coming into the First XV.

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Joining All Black Fletcher Newell in the front row are the reliable duo of George Bower and George Bell, while Quinten Strange and Jamie Hannah round out the Crusaders’ tight five.

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Dominic Gardiner, the always-running Tom Christie will take a place on the flanks while in-form backrower Cullen Grace is set to line up at No. 8 once again.

Willi Heinz starts at halfback for the third week on the bounce and will partner Riley Hohepa who started his first match for the Crusaders less than one week ago.

Captain David Havili joins Levi Aumua in the midfield, while Macca Springer, Sevu Reece and Chay Fihaki make up a familiar outside backs combination.

There’s plenty of flair on the bench as well with coach Penney selecting an exciting mix of experience and youth.

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Among the veterans, Joe Moody and Ryan Crotty will look to make an impact off the pine while youngsters Noah Hotham and Dallas McLeod will hope to do the same.

The Crusaders are winless from four matches to start the season for the first time in team history. Only time will tell as to whether this is the team that can break their winless run.

This New Zealand derby will get underway at 7.05 pm NZT at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.

*Amendment

Tamaiti Williams is not back for the Crusaders this week. There was initially an error with the team’s media release.

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Crusaders team to take on Blues

  1. George Bower
  2. George Bell
  3. Fletcher Newell
  4. Quinten Strange
  5. Jamie Hannah
  6. Dominic Gardiner
  7. Tom Christie
  8. Cullen Grace
  9. Willi Heinz
  10. Riley Hohepa
  11. Macca Springer
  12. David Havili (c)
  13. Levi Aumua
  14. Sevu Reece
  15. Chay Fihaki

Reserves

  1. Ioane Moananu
  2. Joe Moody
  3. Seb Calder
  4. Tahlor Cahill
  5. Corey Kellow
  6. Noah Hotham
  7. Ryan Crotty
  8. Dallas McLeod
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Comments

5 Comments
D
Don 244 days ago

The Chiefs year for sure ,The real issue I see is replacing AB locks of real class , also we need 1st 5’s to start playing intelligent test style rugby,we have the replacements at half back thank god,The blues ex AB’s still need to learn how to tackle and not jersy pull, I am keen to see how Razor can build confidence into some untried young players showing some limited magic in the Super comp. There is a keen Ardy also showing the same energy levels - young AB possibly - Young lock step up will you please

A
Alister 245 days ago

David & anyone else need to take a step back & take a deep breathe Please remember the following 1 Players like Whitelock,Aaron Smith,Cody Taylor,B Barrett,& others are real talents & are not replaced easily.Like any team The Crusaders have to go through change,BUT if you take a look at Super Rugby this year,to date most astute fans can already pick a top five.The interesting aspect is 6 ,7 & 8th?Based on history,pedigree,& fully fit available personal then an 8th placed Crusaders could be a chance? BUT realistically it’s The Chiefs year.

D
David 246 days ago

Strange mixture of “retired” Crusaders and new boys not ready for Super. Caught out by their own shady recruitment and injuries. Still, the Blues are not looking that fluent so they have a chance.

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NB 14 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Nice bit if revisioniusm but that's all it is JW.


For your further education, I found the following breakdown of one prominent club's finances in the Top 14 [Clermont].


For Clermont (budget of €29.5 million for 2021-2022) :

- 20% from ticket sales

- 17% from the LNR (includes TV Rights, compensation from producing french internationals and other minor stuff)

- 5% from public collectivities (so you're looking at funds from the city of Clermont, the department of Puy-De-Dôme and the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

- 4% from merchandising and events

- 3% from miscellaneous

- 51 % from sponsorships and partnerships. They've got 550 different partners. The main ones are CGI, Groupama, Limagrain/Jacquet, Omerin, Paprec, Renault and of course Michelin (not surprising since they're actually the founders of the club).


As you can see nothing comes from the FFR at all. The LNR is a separate entitiy to FFR and their aims frequently do not accord.


It is also why the European breakaway plotted by LNR and PR back in 2013 had nothing to do with the governing bodies of either England or France - and it most certainly did not have their blessing https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15331030/jean-pierre-lux-anglo-french-cup-detrimental-european-rugby


And from the horse's mouth [ex AB skipper Sean Fitapatrick] about the comp between Top 14 and Super Rugby:


"The Top 14 in France is probably the best rugby competition in the world at the moment, purely for the week-in, week-out.”


“I think the quality of players. They are bigger, they are faster, they are stronger. Which then carries on into the international game.”

Take it from someone who knows JW😅

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