Osborne on the wing for Crusaders

Former Suva winger, Patrick Osborne will be on the wing for the Crusaders in the pre season match against the Hurricanes this Saturday.

Osborne was part of the Crusaders outfit that defeated the Highlanders last weekend and has been again retained by coach Todd Blackadder.

The match also will have four Whitelock brothers starting together for the first time for the Crusaders.

The Whitelocks - Adam, Luke, George and Sam will be the first time they have all taken the field together since 2004 when they were at high school.

The Crusaders have made a number of changes from the side that beat the Highlanders 47-19, with All Blacks Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock and Israel Dagg named for their first starts of the 2012 Crusaders campaign.

Fellow World Cup winners Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Kieran Read and Andy Ellis are on a strong 13-man bench but they are still without Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.

The Super 15 rugby season starts on the 24th of this month with the Crusaders and Blues.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi
Story by: NZ Herald