KEY POINTS:
Stung by their first loss of the Super 14 season, coach Robbie Deans has reminded his Crusaders players of their shortcomings as they prepare to meet the Blues in Christchurch tomorrow night.
The 18-5 loss to a rampant Chiefs side in Hamilton last Friday ended the Crusaders' eight-match winning streak, but still left them at the head of the points table, six points clear of the Sharks.
Deans said yesterday he had had a few words with the players about their lacklustre performance and he expected an improvement.
"There's been words unique to the circumstance, I guess," Deans said after the team's training session.
"We can't change the outcome in Hamilton. All we can control is how we react to that experience and how we respond."
He said the Crusaders remained positive despite the setback.
Deans delayed naming his team yesterday because of injuries to centre Casey Laulala, who received a knock to the head in Hamilton and had to be helped from the field, and fullback Leon MacDonald, who has been sidelined by a torn thigh muscle since March 28.
But when the team were finally named in the afternoon, MacDonald was included in the starting 15, as was Laulala, who will undergo final psychometric and impact tests during the captain's run this morning.
"We're going to settle on the mix tomorrow," Deans said. "Everyone came through training today, including Casey and Leon, and there was a fair bit of contact.
"Casey's reported he's good to go, but we will impact-test him first thing tomorrow morning just to make sure," he said.
Deans said MacDonald had trained really well this week and had come through with flying colours.
Winger Kade Poki returns to the starting 15, with Scott Hamilton taking a seat on the reserves bench while Caleb Ralph has been dropped from the match day squad.
Deans said changes on the wings were "performance-related" and a tribute to the progress youngsters Poki and Sean Maitland had made during their maiden Super campaigns.
"The key thing is that they backed themselves on the field," he said.
"That's exactly the attitude we'll be looking for them to bring to the occasion on Friday night."
Deans acknowledged the Crusaders' performance against the Chiefs last week was substandard and he said they were aware "we're going to get a real test this weekend".
He expected the Blues to be "operating at full noise" despite their failure to fire in recent matches.
"I think you can expect this week they'll be sparking," he said.
Christchurch, 7.35pm tomorrow Leon MacDonald
CRUSADERS
Kade Poki
Casey Laulala
Tim Bateman
Sean Maitland
Stephen Brett
Andrew Ellis
Mose Tuiali'i
Richard McCaw (c)
Kieran Read
Ali Williams
Brad Thorn
Greg Somerville
Corey Flynn
Ben Franks
BLUES
Isa Nacewa
David Smith
A. Tuitavake
Benson Stanley
Rudi Wulf
Nick Evans
Taniela Moa
Nick Williams
Daniel Braid
Jerome Kaino
Troy Flavell (c)
Anthony Boric
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock
Crusaders: Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett, Ross Filipo, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Hamish Gard, Scott Hamilton.
Blues: Nick White, Bronson Murray, Kurtis Haiu, Justin Collins, Danny Lee, Isaia Toeava, Ben Atiga.
- NZPA
