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All Black dropped to bench as Crusaders make six starting changes for Force
The Crusaders have dropped one-Test All Black Cullen Grace to the bench as one of six changes to their starting side to take on the Western Force in Perth on Saturday evening.
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Grace, who has also played for the Maori All Blacks, will wear the No. 20 this week with Christian Lio-Willie getting the nod to start in the loose forwards.
The No. 8 joins captain Tom Christie and All Black Ethan Blackadder in the backrow, while the second row of Quinten Strange and Jamie Hannah has gone unchanged.
Coach Rob Penney has named an all-new front row with Joe Moody set to pack down along with Brodie McAlister and Test veteran Owen Franks at HBF Park.
There are two changes in the backline with Mitchell Drummond replacing rising star Noah Hotham as the starting halfback, and Macca Springer being named to start on the wing.
Springer, who played for the New Zealand U20s last year along with Noah Hotham, comes in for Wales international Johnny McNicholl who has flown to Christchurch to have a finger injury assessed.
The rest of the backline remains the same with Rily Hohepa starting at first five, and Dallas McLeod and Levi Aumua lining up in the midfield. Sevu Reece and Chay Fihaki have retained their spots in the outside backs.
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Following their heartbreaking golden point defeat to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, the Crusaders will be desperate to get the better of the last-placed Western Force this weekend.
But the Force won’t be an easy team to beat in Perth. They got the better of the then-high flying Queensland Reds in a big upset 40-31 win on March 23.
With both teams’ playoff hopes slipping away, another loss in round nine will be tough to overcome.
This match is set to get underway at 9:35 pm NZT on Saturday evening.
Crusaders team to take on Western Force
- Joe Moody
- Brodie McAlister
- Owen Franks
- Quinten Strange (vc)
- Jamie Hannah
- Ethan Blackadder
- Tom Christie (c)
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Mitchell Drummond (vc)
- Riley Hohepa
- Macca Springer
- Dallas McLeod
- Levi Aumua
- Sevu Reece
- Chay Fihaki
Replacements
- George Bell
- George Bower
- Fletcher Newell
- Dominic Gardiner
- Cullen Grace
- Noah Hotham
- Rivez Reihana
- Ryan Crotty
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Next week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
I’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
Has virtually played every minute of previous games.
Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1.
Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par
They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato.
Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
Grace, much like Luke Jacobson, has never looked like the same player since his run of injuries.
He also looked much better as a 6 than an 8. He still looks like he doesn't completely understand the position.