Rugby: Crusaders name top team for final

Andy Ellis. Photo / Getty Images

The Crusaders will field their strongest available team for Saturday's Super rugby final against the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.

Todd Blackadder confirmed the same 22-man squad that were so impressive in defeating the Stormers 29-10 in Cape Town last weekend after starting halfback Andy Ellis passed a fitness test at the team's major training run today.

Ellis, who suffered knee and shoulder injuries in the Newlands semifinal, had been bracketed with Kahn Fotuali'i but will run on and avoid an injury curse than saw him miss the 2006 fog-bound final victory over the Hurricanes.

Reserve lock Luke Romano has also recovered from chickenpox - and a late arrival in Brisbane due to quarantine restrictions - to take his place on the bench. Japan-bound former All Black Chris Jack drops out of the squad.

Wing Sean Maitland, the competition's joint leading try scorer, was also confirmed in the back three after being rested from training yesterday as he continues to nurse a foot injury.

The forward pack is predictably unchanged from the unit that monstered the South African conference winners so Owen Franks, Corey Flynn and Wyatt Crockett start in the front row with Ben Franks in reserve.

Meanwhile the Reds have named an unchanged starting lineup, keeping the same combination that defeated Auckland in the semifinals.

Crusaders team:
1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Corey Flynn, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. George Whitelock, 7. Richie McCaw (c), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Andy Ellis/Kahn Fotuali'i, 10. Dan Carter, 11. Zac Guildford, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Sean Maitland, 15. Tom Marshall.

16: Quentin MacDonald, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Luke Romano/Chris Jack,
19. Matt Todd, 20. Kahn Fotuali'i/Willi Heinz, 21. Matt Berquist, 22. Ryan Crotty.

Reds team:
15 Jono Lance, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia; 8 Radike Samo, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley. Reserves: 16 James Hanson, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Will Chambers.

- NZPA