By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - RugbyHeaven | Thursday, 13 March 2008
he Crusaders, not surprisingly, have decided it's time for a breather for some of their established players with coach Robbie Deans making six changes to his side to face the Cheetahs in Christchurch on Saturday night.
It's the top-placed side against the bottom-placed team and with the Crusaders having to counter a bit of travel on their way back from Perth's draining match with the Western Force, Deans clearly saw a need for some fresh legs.
No 8 Nasi Manu and hooker Ti'i Paulo will make the first starts of their Super 14 rugby careers.
Five of the changes come in the forwards and all six demoted players have gone to the bench as a bit of insurance.
This is a match that the Crusaders will have earn-marked as a must-win and Deans is confident his backup brigade will front.
The Cheetahs, on the back of four consecutive losses, have also made some major adjustments with eight changes to the team that pushed the Chiefs so close last weekend.
"We've had a tight turnaround this week, so it's an appropriate time to freshen the side up a little bit," Deans said in announcing his side.
Flanker Reuben Thorne, lock Michael Paterson and prop Wyatt Crockett also come into the pack that laid the foundations for the 29-24 comeback win in Perth.
Paterson replaces Ali Williams, Paulo takes over at hooker from Corey Flynn and Wyatt Crockett starts at prop instead of Greg Somerville, with Ben Franks shifting from the loosehead to tighthead side. Manu and Thorne are in for Mose Tuiali'i and Kieran Read respectively.
Maitland replaces Caleb Ralph on the left wing in the only backline change.
Workaholic skipper Richie McCaw is asked to start a fifth consecutive match as is first five Daniel Carter.
CRUSADERS: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Stephen Brett, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Richard McCaw (c), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Campbell Johnstone, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Mose Tuiali'i. 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Caleb Ralph, 22 Kieran Read
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