Ranby cruelly sidelined again

Just when he was entitled to think he was due an injury-free run, Mark Ranby has been sidelined with a groin strain.

The Chiefs centre picked the injury up at training this week.

He is out of the side to play the Crusaders in Christchurch tomorrow night and could be out for up to three weeks. Ranby, who missed the last two NPC campaigns for Waikato because of shoulder injuries, was a steady performer in a Chiefs team well beaten by the Waratahs, 25-7, in Sydney in the first round.

His place goes to another former one-cap All Black, Keith Lowen, who will play his 50th Super 12 match. Lowen had a slow build-up to the Super 12 after being sidelined by a foot injury in January. "Keith is fit and ready to go," coach Ian Foster said. "He's very experienced and I expect he'll make the most of his chance on Saturday."

The other change from the first-round starting XV is at hooker where Scott Linklater replaces Aleki Lutui, who sprained an ankle in Sydney. Lutui, who got some training in this week, is on the bench. The Crusaders also lost their opening game, 32-21 to defending champions the Brumbies in Canberra.

"We know we're up against a quality team but we are feeling positive about where we are at," Foster added.

Former All Black fullback Leon MacDonald, who returned from Japan days before the opening round, is at fullback for the Crusaders, after being on the bench last weekend.

Dan Carter replaces Andrew Mehrtens - on tsunami match duty at Twickenham - at first five-eighth; Kevin O'Neill replaces injured Ross Filipo at lock; and Dave Hewett starts in place of Campbell Johnstone at loosehed prop.

* Crusaders wing Rico Gear says one reason he declined to join the national sevens side for the World Cup in Hong Kong was because of the weight he would have lost.

* Christchurch, tomorrow 7.35pm

Chiefs

Loki Crichton
Sosene Anesi
Keith Lowen
Grant McQuoid
S Tagicakibau
David Hill
Byron Kelleher
Steven Bates
Marty Holah
Wayne Ormond
Sean Hohneck
Jono Gibbes (c)
Deacon Manu
Scott Linklater
Simms Davison

Crusaders

Leon MacDonald
Rico Gear
Casey Laulala
Aaron Mauger
Caleb Ralph
Dan Carter
Justin Marshall
Sam Broomhall
Richie McCaw (c)
Reuben Thorne
Kevin O'Neill
Chris Jack
Greg Somerville
Corey Flynn
Dave Hewett

Reserves:

Chiefs: Aleki Lutui, Ben Castle, Bernie Upton, Sione Lauaki, Kevin Senio , Stephen Donald, Adrian Cashmore.

Crusaders: Tone Kopelani, Greg Feek, Mose Tuiali'i, Sam Harding, Jamie Nutbrown, Vilimoni Delasau, T. Koonwaiyou/S. Hamilton.