Crusaders 'seconds' for Cats
2006-03-15 21:32
Johannesburg - The Crusaders apparently do not rate the Cats highly, because the Kiwis have decided to field their "second team" for the Super 14 rugby match in Christchurch on Friday morning (SA time).
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has made six changes to the team that beat the Chiefs in Hamilton 25-19 on Friday last week.
Two of the Crusaders' All Blacks stars, captain and flank Richie McCaw and the lock Chris Jack will be on the bench.
The former All Blacks captain, Reuben Thorne will take over the captaincy from McCaw. Johnny Leo is Thorne's partner on the flanks and the tough Brad Mika is the eighthman.
Another change is at tighthead, where the inexperienced Ben Franks will join Corey Flynn (hooker) and Greg Somerville (loosehead) in the front row.
Franks played Super 14 rugby for the first time last week when he was sent on as replacement in the match against the Chiefs.
The prop Campbell Johnstone was not considered because of injury. The loose forward Tanerau Latimer is also not available because he is a member of the New Zealand Sevens team taking part in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
These "second stringers" will still be formidable opposition, because the Cats, who suffered a humiliating record defeat against the Waratahs in Sydney last week, face the daunting prospect of trying to get their campaign back on track on the home ground of the pacesetters in the Super 14 series.
Have a formidable pack
Thorne is captaining a side, that even without McGaw and Jack, still have a formidable pack. The Crusaders will however feel the loss of McCaw as a ball chaser and his ability to retard possession.
The Kiwis have a lot to throw at the Cats with the talented Daniel Carter at flyhalf, centres Aaron Mauger and Casey Laulala, wings Rico Gear and Scott Hamilton and fullback Leon MacDonald. The Cats will pay dearly for every missed tackle.
The Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Casey Laulala, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Kevin Senio, Brad Mika, Johnny Leo'o, Reuben Thorne (c), Ross Filipo, Kevin O'Neill, Ben Franks, Corey Flynnn, Greg Somerville.
Replacements: Tone Kopelani, Wyatt Crockett, Chris Jack, Richie McCaw, Andrew Ellis, Cameron McIntyre, Caleb Ralph.