Rugby: Blackadder eyes top spot

Sam Whitelock. Photo / Getty Images

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has challenged his team to raise the bar for the all-important match against the leading New Zealand conference team, the Blues, in their round 17 Super rugby match in Timaru on Saturday night.

The Blues, on 55 points, have a two-point buffer over the seven-times champions going into the penultimate round of preliminary play, and a win against the Crusaders would almost certainly ensure they finish as New Zealand's top qualifiers and give them a more favourable draw for the playoffs.

In next week's final conference round, the Blues are at home to the Highlanders and the Crusaders, while being the home team, will play the Hurricanes in Wellington.

"This is a big week for us and we need to get the work done," Blackadder said after Crusaders training. "It's not a week for mediocrity and we need our guys to be switched on straight away. We've got two tough games coming up to determine who is going to win our (New Zealand) conference."

When the Crusaders first met the Blues in the opening round at Eden Park on February 19, the Auckland-based team scored three of the game's five tries in their 24-22 win, but Blackadder said the Crusaders had not dwelt on that performance.

"Twice we gave them the ball when we did some silly stuff and they scored two tries. We need to be more clinical and are aware they have a dangerous back three."

Blackadder admitted the Chiefs' win over the Blues last week - their third successive loss - had brought a glint to the eye as the Crusaders were offered a lifeline.

"That was a really pleasing performance from the Chiefs. They're a good side and I think they showed us the way. They got up and shut the Blues down and we'll take a lot of good things from what they did in that game and try and implement them ourselves. I think they showed us a blueprint."

The loss of captain Richie McCaw, who is suffering further soreness to his foot which was operated on preseason, came as a body blow, but was lessened with the Crusaders welcoming back two other All Blacks from injury - halfback Andy Ellis and lock Sam Whitelock.

They are two of the four changes to the starting line-up from the Crusaders controversial 17-16 loss to the Reds in Brisbane two rounds ago - the Crusaders having a bye last week. Ellis, who broke his thumb against the Highlanders on April 23, replaces Willi Heinz and Whitelock has been absent since tearing ankle ligaments against the Sharks in London on March 27.

The weekly rotation of the All Blacks props means Wyatt Crockett goes to the bench with Ben Franks coming off it to join brother, Owen, and Matt Todd returns for McCaw on the openside flank. No. 8 Kieran Read assumes the captaincy.

"It's fantastic to have big Sam Whitelock back - we've really missed him. I know he's really keen to get back out there and it takes the pressure off the other forwards as well. Andy Ellis goes quiet when he is injured and he's back to being noisy and enthusiastic on the training field. It's good to have his enthusiasm back and we certainly want them back in the mix as much as they want it," Blackadder said.

Crusaders: 1. Ben Franks, 2. Corey Flynn 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. George Whitelock, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. Andy Ellis, 10. Dan Carter, 11. Zac Guildford, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Brent Ward, 15. Tom Marshall.

Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald,17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Luke Romano, 19. Jonathan Poff, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Matt Berquist, 22. Ryan Crotty.

- NZPA