SCOTT BARRETT ONE OF TWO KEY ALL BLACK RETURNEES FOR STRUGGLING CRUSADERS AGAINST REBELS

Super Rugby Pacific’s bottom-placed team the Crusaders have received a double fitness boost with the return to action of experienced All Blacks duo Scott Barrett and David Havili.

Barrett, who has been sidelined for several weeks with a finger injury, has been included in the starting line-up at lock while Havili, who has recovered from a calf issue, has been named as one of the replacement backs against the Rebels.

Havili to cover fly-half

Havili‘s return is an interesting one as he will be covering fly-half from the bench.

Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has rung the changes to his starting line-up after suffering a humiliating defeat against fellow strugglers Western Force in Perth last weekend.

In the backline, former Wales international Johnny McNicholl comes in at full-back in place of Chay Fihaki while All Blacks flyer Sevu Reece and Heremaia Murray complete the back three as the starting wings.

Levi Aumua and Dallas McLeod have been retained as the midfield combination but there is a change at fly-half with Rivez Reihana replacing Riley Hohepa as the chief playmaker while Mitchell Drummond retains his spot at scrum-half.

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Amongst the forwards, Christian Lio-Willie continues at number eight while Ethan Blackadder shifts from the blindside to the openside flank with Cullen Grace coming in to the run-on side to wear the number six jersey.

Barrett returns to the second-row where he forms a partnership with Quinten Strange while there are some changes in the front-row with Fletcher Newell and George Bower coming to replace fellow All Blacks Owen Franks and Joe Moody as the starting props. Finally, Brodie McAlister is preferred to George Bell at hooker.

Bell, Moody and Franks will offer front-row cover while Jamie Hannah (lock) and Corey Kellow (loose forward) are the rest of the forward replacements with Havili, Fihaki and Noah Hotham the backline reserves.

Crusaders team to face Rebels

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Heremaia Murray, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 George Bower

Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 David Havili, 23 Chay Fihaki

Date: Friday, April 26

Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington

Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 GMT)

Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

Assistant Referees: Nick Hogan (New Zealand), Anthony Petrie (New Zealand)

TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

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2024-04-24T08:05:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd