Cape Town - All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo'unga will run out for the Crusaders at Eden Park for their Super Rugby clash against the Blues on Friday.
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Mo'unga missed the 10-time champions' defeat to the Chiefs in Hamilton last week due to injury but comes in at flyhalf in place of David Havili, who shifts to fullback.
In the loose forwards, an injury to Whetukamokamo Douglas means Tom Sanders will shift to No 8, with Cullen Grace earning his first Crusaders start on the blindside.
Grace's promotion to the starting side means Sione Havili comes in to the match-day squad for the first time in 2020 and will make his debut appearance for the Crusaders if called upon from the bench. The 22-year-old already has one Super Rugby cap to his name and, ironically, it was for the Blues against the Rebels back in 2018.
Bryn Hall also joins the starting team for this game which means Mitch Drummond moves to the bench along with Will Jordan, who started at full-back against the Chiefs.
Friday's match in Auckland is scheduled for 08:05 (SA time).
Teams:
Blues
15 Matt Duffie, 14 Jordan Hyland, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Dalton Papali’i, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Substitutes: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Tom Robinson, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Emoni Narawa
Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Oliver Jager, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 George Bower, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Sione Havili, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Will Jordan
- TeamTalk Media
