Crusaders team to play the Rebels in Super Rugby opener
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Loading...The Crusaders will open the 2015 Investec Super Rugby season this Friday night when they host the Rebels in Christchurch.
Richie McCaw will start for the Crusaders for the first time in 2015, in one of three changes that Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder has made to the starting line-up that played a warm-up game against the Reds in Brisbane last week.
The other changes are Joe Moody starting at number one and Ben Funnell at hooker.
Wyatt Crockett and Ryan Crotty also return to the mix for the first time, looking for a start off the bench on Friday night.
Blackadder said the team is chomping at the bit to hit the field on Friday night and get the 2015 competition underway.
“There is something special about this season, with it being our twentieth Crusade and Rugby World Cup year. So there is a real buzz within the team at the moment, they are fired up for this season and ready to get it started.
“The Rebels have always been a tough challenger for us so we know we’re going to have a real battle on Friday night. It should be a good spectacle and a great way to kick this season off,” Blackadder said.
Kick-off is at 7:35pm at AMI Stadium (Addington) and tickets are available through Ticket Direct – www.ticketdirect.co.nz or phone 0800 224 224 – or at one of the ticketing outlets at Eastgate, The Palms, Champions of the World South City, or The Warehouse (Barrington, Hornby, Northwood, Riccarton, South City, Timaru, Rangiora and Greymouth branches only).
Crusaders team to play the Rebels:
1
Joe Moody
2
Ben Funnell
3
Owen Franks
4
Luke Romano
5
Dominic Bird
6
Richie McCaw
7
Matt Todd (c)
8
Luke Whitelock
9
Mitchell Drummond
10
Daniel Carter
11
Johnny McNicholl
12
Tom Taylor
13
Kieron Fonotia
14
Robbie Fruean
15
Colin Slade
RESERVES:
16
Codie Taylor
17
Alex Hodgman
18
Wyatt Crockett
19
Scott Barrett
20
Jordan Taufua
21
Billy Guyton
22
Ryan Crotty
23
Nathaniel Apa
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