Rugby: Carter back in 10 but McCaw at No.8

Dan Carter of the Crusaders looks on during the round 12 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Crusaders. Photo / Getty Images.

Dan Carter is back in his favoured first-five position for the Crusaders as they prepare to play the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday night.

As expected, Carter has been named in the No 10 jersey, with Ryan Crotty making a rare start at second-five this season. However, Richie McCaw has been named in the relatively unfamiliar No 8 position due to Kieran Read's pelvis injury.

Tom Taylor, the Crusaders' first-five for the past five matches, has been left out of the squad due to a quadriceps strain, with Tyler Bleyendaal on the reserves bench.

The Crusaders struggled for penetration in the backline in their shock loss to the Rebels in Melbourne and Todd Blackadder will be looking to Crotty, hampered by an early-season hamstring injury, to provide momentum.

Blackadder has made seven changes to the starting XV.

Most of the changes are in the backs and include Israel Dagg taking the fullback spot and Andy Ellis returning to halfback, so Tom Marshall and Willi Heinz move to the bench. Adam Whitelock will start on the right wing ahead of the out-of-form Sean Maitland.

Read and fellow loose forward Luke Whitelock were both unavailable for selection due to injuries sustained during last week's game. Read is still recovering from a heavy fall on to his pelvis, and Whitelock is being rested after a minor head injury. Matt Todd starts at openside flanker, with George Whitelock at blindside.

Crusaders team to play the Blues:
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Owen Franks
4. Luke Romano
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. George Whitelock
7. Matt Todd
8. Richie McCaw (c)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter (vc)
11. Zac Guildford
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Adam Whitelock
15. Israel Dagg

Reserves
16. Quentin MacDonald
17. Ben Franks
18. Tom Donnelly
19. Brendon O'Connor
20. WIlli Heinz
21. Tyler Bleyendaal
22. Tom Marshall

- HERALD ONLINE