Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder has made four changes to the team that lost to the Sharks for this week’s match against the Western Force.
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Hooker Corey Flynn returns to the Number 2 jersey which moves last week’s starting hooker Ben Funnell to the bench.
The game will mark the 250th first class game of rugby for Flynn which is a record that is shared by only 50 players in the history of New Zealand Rugby.
Dominic Bird replaces Sam Whitelock in the starting fifteen while Shane Christie earns his first appearance for the Crusaders in the number 7 jersey.
Israel Dagg returns to fullback, moving Tom Marshall to the wing and Zac Guildford onto the bench.
Dan Carter has been ruled out of this weekend’s game following a hamstring strain sustained at training.
Carter has returned to New Zealand and will undergo further medical assessment but is likely to be out of the game for a couple of weeks.
Crusaders: 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Corey Flynn, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Luke Romano, 5 Dominic Bird, 6 George Whitelock (Captain), 7 Shane Christie, 8 Luke Whitelock, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 11 Tom Marshall, 12 Ryan Crotty, 13 Robbie Fruean, 14 Adam Whitelock, 15 Israel Dagg
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Jordan Taufua, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Telusa Veainu, 22 Zac Guildford.