George Bower to play his 50th as Crusaders name side for Reds clash

June 01, 2022
1761
Ultimate Rugby

The Crusaders will face the Reds in the first Quarter Final of Super Rugby Pacific this Friday night, when they host the Queenslanders for a consecutive week at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

The fixture will be the fourth time the two sides have met during the Super Rugby play-offs, and their first knock-out encounter since 2013. Head Coach Scott Robertson has named his side, and it includes the return of All Blacks Codie Taylor, Richie Mo'unga and Jack Goodhue to start, as well as a 50th cap for loosehead prop, George Bower.

Taylor's inclusion at hooker is the only change in the starting forward pack this week, while Fletcher Newell is refreshed from a week off to provide tighthead cover for Oli Jager in the reserves.

Bryn Hall, who was a late withdrawal from the side on Friday night after tweaking his back in the warm up, is fit to start at halfback this week, and will line up alongside Mo'unga at first five-eighth.

Goodhue's return to the midfield means Braydon Ennor takes a spot on the bench, while right wing Sevu Reece, who currently leads the competition with 15 line-breaks in the 2022 season, has been cleared to play after leaving the field for a head injury assessment (HIA) last weekend.

"Finals footy is a really special time, but it's also a whole new level, so we're going to have to step up if we want to earn ourselves another week in this competition," Robertson said.

"Both sides will have learnt a bit about one another last week, and it's a pretty unique scenario to have back to back games against the same opposition. This is knock-out rugby though, and Queensland know what it's like to play in these big games, so we're taking nothing for granted with our preparation this week and we're going to need our fans right behind us in the stands for this one."

Crusaders team to play the Queensland Reds:

1. George Bower*
2. Codie Taylor (VC)
3. Oli Jager
4. Scott Barrett (C)
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Pablo Matera
7. Ethan Blackadder
8. Cullen Grace
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. David Havili (VC)
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Sevu Reece
15. Will Jordan

RESERVES:

16. Brodie McAlister
17. Finlay Brewis
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Zach Gallagher
20. Tom Christie
21. Mitch Drummond
22. Braydon Ennor
23. George Bridge

*denotes 50th game

The Reds match day 23