Codie Taylor to bring up 150 as Crusaders farewell Apollo Projects Stadium

A sentimental fixture awaits the Crusaders on Friday night, with the final match at Apollo Projects Stadium doubling as Codie Taylor’s 150th game in red and black.

With One New Zealand Stadium, Te Kaha, open slightly ahead of schedule and ready to host Super Round at the end of the month, the Crusaders will bid farewell to the temporary venue that has seen them through eight championships and 14 years.

Taylor has played all 149 with Apollo Projects as his home arena, and says it will always hold a special place for him and his club.

“I’ve had quite a few milestone games at the stadium, and it’s the only stadium I know that I’ve called home from my debut right until this point,” Taylor reflected.

“I see it as a place that was created to give hope to our city and our region. I was part of the wider squad when the earthquake hit, and I was part of that tough time the city went through. We travelled for every game that season, and then eventually we got a home ground.

“It became a place to bring hope and unify the city in a way. Rugby has done that down here. It’s a place we love to play at. It’s home.”

Jack Sexton can become a second-generation Crusader on Friday night, following in his father Matt’s footsteps. Sexton has been named as a reserve prop for the fixture. Fellow rookie Johnny Lee has retained his spot in the starting team, and Louie Chapman is back on the bench.

Meanwhile, there’s both good and bad news on the injury front for the men from Christchurch, with playmakers Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana both available and selected, while Ethan Blackadder has gone down with a calf complaint and is set to miss 4-6 weeks. It was also revealed earlier this week that Tamaiti Williams will miss the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a back infection.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

35

14

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

80%

Crusaders team to face the Fijian Drua

1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor (VC)
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Antonio Shalfoon
5. Jamie Hannah
6. Corey Kellow
7. Johnny Lee
8. Christian Lio?Willie
9. Noah Hotham
10. Taha Kemara
11. Sevu Reece
12. Dallas McLeod
13. Leicester Fainga’anuku
14. Chay Fihaki
15. Will Jordan (C)

Reserves

16. George Bell
17. Jack Sexton*
18. Seb Calder
19. Tahlor Cahill
20. Dom Gardiner
21. Louie Chapman
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Braydon Ennor

injury list

Cooper ROBERTS:  Stress fracture (fibula), 1 week
Macca SPRINGER: Quad, 1 week
Johnny MCNICOLL: Hamstring, 1 week
David HAVILI: Heel, 2 weeks
Kyle PRESTON: Knee, 3-4 weeks
Liam JACK:  Hamstring, 3-5 weeks
Ethan BLACKADDER, Calf, 4-6 weeks
Aki TUIVAILALA: Concussion, GRTP (Graduated Return to Play)
Cullen GRACE:  Knee, Unclear
James WHITE: Shoulder, out for the season
Tamaiti WILLIAMS, Discitis, out for the season