The Gallagher Chiefs have named a strong line-up against the Crusaders this Friday.
Coach Dave Rennie has also included a number of former and current All Blacks players including Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Stephen Donald, Setareki Tamanivalu, Damian McKenzie, Nathan Harris, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Cruden.
Tamanivalu gets the nod to start at center after making his debut for the All Blacks against Wales this month while Donald has been rewarded with a start at first five-eight after his tremendous performance against Wales.
Cruden has been named on the bench with Kerr-Barlow and Sam McNicol.
The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the BNZ Crusaders is:
Kane Hames, Hika Elliot, Hiroshi Yamashita, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, Taleni Seu, Sam Cane (co-captain), Tom Sanders, Brad Weber, Stephen Donald, James Lowe, Anton Lienert-Brown, Seta Tamanivalu, Toni Pulu and Damian McKenzie.
The reserves are Nathan Harris, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Atu Moli, Mitchell Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden (co-captain) and Sam McNicol.
The Chiefs will host the Crusaders at 7.35pm Friday at the ANZ Stadium.
