Crusaders promote young lock as one of four changes to lineup for Blues clash

The Crusaders have tasked a young lock with a starting role for their blockbuster Good Friday clash against the Blues in Christchurch.

Head coach Scott Robertson has made four changes to his starting lineup after the Crusaders edged the Hurricanes in a 24-21 Super Rugby Pacific victory at Sky Stadium in Wellington last weekend.

The most curious of those changes comes in the second row, where 20-year-old rookie lock Zach Gallagher earns a starting role alongside captain Scott Barrett, just two weeks after making his Super Rugby Pacific debut against the Highlanders.

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Gallagher is promoted to the run-on side after last week’s starter Quinten Strange sustained a calf injury against the Hurricanes, which will leave him sidelined for several weeks.

Strange’s injury leaves the Crusaders short-changed at lock, with veteran Sam Whitelock unavailable due to a broken finger, while Mitchell Dunshea is out for the season with a damaged MCL.

As such, Gallagher has been entrusted with a starting role in the Crusaders’ biggest match of the season between New Zealand’s top two franchises, despite his vast inexperience.

The selection of Gallagher is one of two changes made in the forward pack, with the other coming in the front row, where Oli Jager returns from a thumb injury to take the place of the benched Fletcher Newell.

In the backline, experienced halfback Bryn Hall starts ahead of Mitchell Drummond, who has dropped to the bench, while Leicester Fainga’anuku has been named on the left wing at the expense of All Blacks flyer George Bridge.

Bridge joins Newell, Drummond and rookie utility forward Dominic Gardiner as the newbies in the reserves.

Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.

Crusaders team to play the Blues

1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor (vc)
3. Oli Jager
4. Scott Barrett (c)
5. Zach Gallgher
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Tom Christie
8. Cullen Grace
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mo’unga
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku
12. David Havili (vc)
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Sevu Reece
15. Will Jordan

Reserves

16. Ricky Jackson
17. George Bower
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Dominic Gardiner
20. Pablo Matera
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Fergus Burke
23. George Bridge