All change for Crusaders
Defeat to Highlanders forces Deans to shuffle his pack
Last updated: 22nd May 2008
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to last week's team for Saturday's Super 14 semi-final against the Hurricanes in Christchurch.
In the pack, prop Wyatt Crockett and blindside flanker Kieran Read come in for Ben Franks and Reuben Thorne respectively.
Winger Scott Hamilton returns to the backline where there is a change to the midfield combination, with outside centre Casey Laulala and inside centre Tim Bateman taking over from Caleb Ralph and Stephen Brett.
Brett, winger Sean Maitland, Thorne and Franks are on the bench. Ralph has been omitted from the matchday squad alltogether.
Deans said changes to the starting XV that lost 26-14 to the Highlanders last weekend were performance-related.
"We'll take on board the lessons that are to be learned from the experience," he said.
"Last week was the end of that phase of the competition - the quest to make the play-offs.
"We start a new and exciting phase on Saturday and it is 0-0. Nothing that has gone before really matters now."
Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Scott Hamilton, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Richard McCaw (c), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacement: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Reuben Thorne, 19 Nasi Manu, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sean Maitland.
Super 14 Top 6
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crusaders | 12 | 52 |
| 2 | Hurricanes | 13 | 41 |
| 3 | Blues | 13 | 40 |
| 4 | NSW Waratahs | 12 | 39 |
| 5 | Stormers | 12 | 37 |
| 6 | Sharks | 12 | 37 |
Features
Guinness Prem live
Sky Sports has confirmed the first batch of live Guinness Premiership matches for the new season.
Beware Dingo Deans
Mark Robinson is concerned that the Deans factor could give Australia the edge over New Zealand.
Sky's Heineken record
Sky Sports and ERC have announced record live coverage of the first four rounds of the Heineken Cup.
Experts & Blogs
Latest Super 14 News
Burke bags 'Tahs role
Former Australia and Newcastle full-back Matthew Burke has been appointed kicking coach of the Waratahs.
Sharks ace heads to Leeds
Sharks scrum-half Scott Mathie has agreed a two-year deal to join Leeds Carnegie.
Ulster complete Botha deal
Ulster have confirmed that Springboks prop BJ Botha has agreed a three-year deal after passing a medical.
Valentine joins the Force
Western Force have signed former Waratahs and Reds scrum-half Josh Valentine on a one-year deal.
McLean departs Hurricanes
Aussie McLean has resigned as Hurricanes assistant coach with immediate effect.
