There’s no fixture more intriguing than the beauty between the Crusaders and Hurricanes set to kick off round four tomorrow.
If the Canes didn’t already fancy their chances, they surely do after the Crusaders confirmed captain Scott Barrett would miss up to six weeks with a broken finger.
Rob Penney has handed Riley Hohepa the keys to the Crusaders’ malfunctioning back line for their first home game of the season.
Hohepa, who only joined the team as injury cover after Rivez Reihana went down with a shoulder injury in week one, played a couple of games for the Hurricanes last year, and was training with the Chiefs during the pre-season.
He’s been preferred to 20-year-old Taha Kemara, who has had a tough time of it during the Crusaders’ first 0-3 start to a season since 1996.
With captain Scott Barrett out for six weeks with a broken finger, and hooker Codie Taylor not set to return until May 4 against the Reds, David Havili will skipper the side.
A week after Manasa Mataele and Kershawl Sykes-Martin were ruled out with Covid, prop Joe Moody has been scratched due to the bug.
Crusaders: Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Levi Aumua, David Havili (capt), Macca Springer, Riley Hohepa, Willi Heinz, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Dominic Gardiner, Zach Gallagher, Quinten Strange, Fletcher Newell, George Bell, George Bower. Reserves: Ioane Moananu, Finlay Brewis, Owen Franks, Jamie Hannah, Tahlor Cahill, Mitchell Drummond, Ryan Crotty, Dallas McLeod.
Source: Stuff.co
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