Crusaders
17
Match Complete
Highlanders
14
R. Mo'unga | 31 | |||
L. Fainga'anuku | 30 | |||
R. Mo'unga | 25 | |||
20 | M. Hunt | |||
18 | S. Gregory | |||
R. Mo'unga | 13 | |||
F. Newell | 12 | |||
8 | M. Hunt | |||
6 | A. Makalio |
2 | Tries | 2 | ||
2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
0 | Field Goals | 0 |
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The Crusaders and the Highlanders meet in the opening match of round seven on Friday night with the Highlanders will searching for their first victory of the Super Rugby Pacific season. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:05pm AEDT.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has been forced to make yet more changes to his side due to injury with his second row stocks looking worryingly thin. Locks Sam Whitelock and Mitchell Dunshea are out for four weeks and the entire season respectively and Brodie McAlister is gone for up to six weeks with a calf injury.
“It’s been a hell of a casualty ward the last few weeks,” Robertson commented earlier this week but while his forwards are looking weaker than usual, the backs are full of the usual first class talent which should scare the struggling Highlanders defence.
The Highlanders are low on confidence right now after losing their first five games and this clash very much looks like it will be six down from six.
One highlight is that new winger Denny Solomona is due to make his Super Rugby debut after joining the club recently. The former England flyer has a great nose for the try line – something the Highlanders desperately need. But can they create some genuine chances for the international winger to take advantage of – that’s the big question.
Venue: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 5:05pm AEDT
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Crusaders $1.12, Highlanders $6.00 – odds via PlayUp
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody, 2. Cody Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Quinten Strange, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Cullen Grace, 9. Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. David Havili, 13. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Reserves: 16. Shilo Klein, 17. George Bower, 18. Tamaiti Williams, 19. Zach Gallagher, 20. Pablo Matera 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Fergus Burke, 23. Braydon Ennor.
Highlanders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Andrew Makalio, 3. Josh Hohneck, 4. Bryn Evans, 5. Josh Dickson, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. James Lentjes, 8. Marino Miakele Tu’u, 9. Aaron Smith (c), 10. Mitch Hunt, 11. Mosese Dawai, 12. Scott Gregory, 13. Fetuli Paea, 14. Sam Gilbert, 15. Connor Garden Bachop
Reserves: 16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Ethan de Groot, 18. Jermaine Ainsley, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Marty Banks, 23. Denny Solomona.
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