Finalists picking and sticking for Super Rugby showdown
The Crusaders believe selection continuity will be a weapon in the Super Rugby final after unveiling an unchanged side for the second straight week.
The same starting XV and reserve bench which beat the Highlanders 17-0 in the quarter-finals and the Chiefs 27-13 in last week’s semi-final will face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The only injury concerns had surrounded two key All Blacks forwards who picked up niggles in their Christchurch semi-final.
Prop Owen Franks (achilles tendon) and No.8 Kieran Read (knee) have both been passed fit. They have participated in what has admittedly been a light start to the week’s preparation.
Assistant coach Brad Mooar said fielding an unchanged team throughout the finals distilled a sense of unity for the seven-time champions.
“It’s awesome. The third game in a row and wonderful to get to a final and have everybody fit and available for selection,” he said.
“Continuity is very very important. Being in this position at the back end of the season speaks highly of the way we’ve managed the players.”
Nearly half of the Crusaders 23 are All Blacks, including seven in the starting pack.
Mooar says the Crusaders are content with the appointment of South African referee Jaco Peyper to control the final, disagreeing with a number of Kiwi-based commentators who believe the match officials should be neutral.
Peyper has always been impartial and relates well to players during games, Mooar said.
The South African side has matched the Crusaders by unveiling an identical side to that which claimed victory in the semi-finals last week.
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Nine of the Lions starting XV were starters in last year’s 20-3 loss to the Hurricanes in the final. Two others were on the reserve bench in Wellington.
One player missing is influential captain and No.8 Warren Whiteley, who was injured while playing for the Springboks against France in June.
The skipper’s role has been subsequently taken up by flanker Jaco Kriel, who was a central figure in the semi-final fightback from 19 points down to beat the Hurricanes 44-29 at Ellis Park.
The decider will serve as a farewell for Ackermann.
He will take up a post at Gloucester, with Lions assistant Swys de Bruin to take the Lions head role next year.
The Lions host the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final, kicking off on Sunday morning at midnight, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
TEAMS
Lions team to face the Crusaders
1. Jacques van Rooyen
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Ruan Dreyer
4. Andries Ferreira
5. Franco Mostert
6. Jaco Kriel
7. Kwagga Smith
8. Ruan Ackermann
9. Ross Cronje
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Courtnail Skosan
12. Harold Vorster
13. Lionel Mapoe
14. Ruan Combrinck
15. Andries Coetzee
Reserves
16. Akker van der Merwe
17. Corne Fourie
18. Johannes Jonker
19. Lourens Erasmus
20. Cyle Brink
21. Faf de Klerk
22. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
23. Sylvian Mahuza
Crusaders team to face the Lions
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Scott Barrett
5. Sam Whitelock (c)
6. Jordan Taufua
7. Matt Toddd
8. Kieran Read
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mounga
11. Seta Tamanivalu
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Israel Dagg
Reserves:
16. Ben Funnell
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Michael Alaalatoa
19. Luke Romano
20. Pete Samu
21. Mitchell Drummons
22. Mitch Hunt
23. George Bridge