Crusaders coaches opt for burglars

DON SCOTT/The Press

FLANKS COVERED: Richie McCaw and George Whitelock will share the fetching duties.

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The piranhas will be circling the Blues' rucks tomorrow night.

By naming captain Richie McCaw in the unfamiliar No6 jersey for his first run-on start of the season and retaining George Whitelock at openside flanker, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has opted to field a loose forward trio bulging with breakdown burglars for the Super 14 encounter at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

With regular No8 Thomas Waldrom scratched because of an Achilles tendon injury, Kieran Read switches from blindside flanker into his international position of No8 to complete a mobile troika capable of poaching the ball off the deck and using their athleticism to mount counter-attacks.

The chances of McCaw playing long-term in the No6 jersey are unlikely, although if the strategy proves an outrageous success it could give Blackadder plenty to mull over. "George has played three games in a row at seven and has got more match practice, more match conditioning," he said. "It just takes Richie out of that front line a little bit ... and it makes us more potent at the second ruck, doesn't it?"

Two years ago the All Blacks coaches attempted to shield McCaw from the physical batterings at the breakdown by using him in a left-right role with Rodney So'oialo, although that plan was ditched after just a few matches.

McCaw said he and Whitelock would be required to "mix things up a bit. We will do a bit of both roles really." They were likely to share duties at the tail of the lineout.

Having played 27 minutes as a replacement for Read in the win over the Sharks last weekend, McCaw should be primed for this fixture against a Blues side that recovered from their opening defeat to the Hurricanes to tip over the Highlanders and Queensland Reds.

Not surprisingly, loosehead prop Tony Woodcock has been promoted by coach Pat Lam after being relegated to the bench for last weekend's round against the Reds but fellow All Blacks Luke McAlister and Isaia Toeava are still missing because of injury. While Lam has had to cope without star lock Ali Williams because of his Achilles tendon injury, Blackadder has an abundance of locks to choose from, with Sam Whitelock deservedly getting another crack in the second row alongside Brad Thorn for this match.

Whitelock racked up 15 tackles against the Sharks, behind brother George (17) and Wyatt Crockett (16). Sam Whitelock has been dependable in the middle of the lineout and his athleticism allows him to contribute in defence. He has been preferred to start ahead of Isaac Ross, who has recovered from his sprained ankle, and Chris Jack makes his comeback from his wrist injury for the Crusaders' Development Unit at Rugby Park tomorrow afternoon.

Rookie Whitelock, 22, will also call the lineouts: "He's been immense so far, we are really proud of his progress. He is going from strength to strength," Blackadder said. "If we thought that [the lineout calling] would be a burden for him and he wasn't ready for it, we certainly wouldn't do it."

Ben Franks' knee injury has resulted in younger brother Owen being recalled to tighthead prop and Corey Flynn has recovered from his ankle injury and replaces Quentin MacDonald on the bench.

CRUSADERS: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robert Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Kieran Read, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Richie McCaw (capt), 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Peter Borlase, 18 Isaac Ross, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Colin Slade.

BLUES: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson; 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (capt), 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Tom Chamberlain, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 George Pisi.

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