Rugby
Read returns to face the Cheetahs─── 11:01 Thu, 10 Apr 2014
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein - The Crusaders have received a massive boost ahead of their Super Rugby clash against the Toyota Cheetahs this weekend.
The side sees the return of captain Kieran Read, who has been side-lined for their previous two clashes due to concussion.
The influential player will without a doubt give the side a lot more attacking options at the back of the scrum when their aim to stop the Cheetahs winning streak against them in Bloemfontein.
Cheetahs’ coach Naka Drotské yesterday said they were preparing for the game against the New Zealanders as if Read was going to be playing for them.
“They wouldn’t have brought him on tour if he wasn’t at least going to play against us. We all know his rugby-pedigree and he his definitely a game changer, even playing at number 8,” said Drotské.
“He is most probably their most physical player and ball-carrier, so we will really have to be wide awake to prevent him and the rest of their pack from gaining any momentum,” Drotské concluded.
Read is the only new inclusion in the match-23, however there are a few positional switches for Saturday's clash.
Corey Flynn will start at hooker this weekend with Ben Funnell moving to the bench. Nepo Laulala starts at tighthead prop with the physical Owen Franks warming the bench.
In the back Willi Heinz starts at scrumhalf, with long-time Crusaders servant Andy Ellis wearing the number 21 jersey.
Saturday’s match at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 17:05.
Crusaders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty (vice-captain), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements – 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Tom Taylor.
