Whitelock sets record
Crusaders colossus Sam Whitelock will mark a special milestone today, becoming the sixth New Zealand player to reach 350 firstclass games.
Whitelock joins Liam Messam, Wyatt Crockett, Keven Mealamu, Sir Colin Meads and Aaron Smith, who hit the mark last month.
Coach Scott Robertson has made three changes to the starting XV that trounced the Rebels last weekend for their blockbuster clash with the undefeated Chiefs.
Cullen Grace has been promoted from the bench to start at No. 8, as has Dallas McLeod on the right wing, with Leicester Fainga’anuku returning from injury to start on the left. Prop Oli Jager has been named on the bench, where he’ll make his return from a lengthy layoff with a neck injury suffered during last year’s National Provincial Championship.
The Chiefs have been fortified by their All Blacks contingent for their heavyweight showdown against the Crusaders.
Co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber return from a week of rest, also loose forward Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa’i, who will start alongside Brodie Retallick at lock. Emoni Narawa is back on the right wing, meaning Damian McKenzie shifts back to No. 10 and Shaun Stevenson to fullback.
Aidan Ross and George Dyer return to form a first-choice front row with All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho. The match kicks off at 7.05pm.
Line-up Chiefs:
1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson.
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Lalomilo Lalomilo.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Dom Gardiner, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 11-Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Dallas McLeod, 15-Fergus Burke
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Finlay Brewis, 18-Oliver Jager, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Christian Lo-Willie, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Jack Goodhue, 23-Macca Springer.
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