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Will Jordan named to return for Crusaders clash with Force

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

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The Crusaders have named their team to face the Western Force in Round 11 of Super Rugby Pacific in the first of back-to-back home games. 

The home crowd will welcome back 45-cap Crusader and 21-Test All Black Will Jordan as he takes his spot at fullback in his hotly anticipated first start for the franchise this season.  

Scott Robertson, Crusaders head coach, said it’s been “a big six months for Will” and everyone was “just really pleased for him”. 

“He’s got better and better and chose this game after having a couple of good training weeks,” Robertson said. 

“He’s ready to play the full 80 if needed.” 

Jordan will be joined in the back three by All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku on the left wing and Macca Springer on the right.

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In the midfield David Havili partners Braydon Ennor, who will play outside No 10 Richie Mo’unga.

A rare start has been handed to rookie halfback Noah Hotham with Willi Heinz sidelined with a calf strain.

Robertson said “halfbacks, like front rowers, are hard to come by – it’s a specialist position”, and coaches have been impressed with the 19-year-old’s performance so far this season. 

Up front hooker Brodie McAlister will pack down for his first start this year alongside All Black veteran Joe Moody and impressive tighthead Tamaiti Williams.

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After notching 50 games last week, Quinten Strange starts in the second row alongside captain Scott Barrett.

Dom Gardiner has been named at No 6 with Cullen Grace returning to the starting XV at Number 8. Tom Christie completes the starting loose forward trio at openside flanker.  

Oli Jager is back on the bench for his second game of the ’23 season after coming off the bench against the Chiefs last week. 

Crusaders team to face the Force:

1. Joe Moody
2. Brodie McAlister
3. Tamaiti Williams
4. Scott Barrett (c)
5. Quinten Strange
6. Dominic Gardiner
7. Tom Christie
8. Cullen Grace
9. Noah Hotham
10. Richie Mo’unga
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku
12. David Havili
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Macca Springer
15. Will Jordan

Reserves

16. Codie Taylor (vc)
17. Finlay Brewis
18. Oli Jager
19. Zach Gallagher
20. Christian Lio-Willie
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Fergus Burke
23. Jack Goodhue

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Comments

2 Comments
J
JD Kiwi 548 days ago

Fantastic news! hoping for his good health and excellent form in the World Cup!

B
Brendon 548 days ago

it's about time.

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AM 37 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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