Rugby: Ellis back for Crusaders

The return of halfback Andrew Ellis marks the only change in the Crusaders team to meet the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney in their Super 14 rugby match on Saturday.

Coach Todd Blackadder had every backline player in a different position for last week's match against the Western Force in Christchurch yet the Crusaders came very close to gaining only their second win in five rounds, blowing a 20-6 halftime lead to finish with a 23-23 draw.

Blackadder emerged from today's final practice session confident the enthusiasm remained.

Some positives had been taken from the draw which needed to be turned into points against the Waratahs.

"We've got some continuity and consistency in selection for probably the first time and while we have Andy Ellis coming in he's been involved all the way through," Blackadder said.

Ellis missed the match against the Force with sore ribs, but has recovered and will replace Kahn Fotuali'i.

"The guys we've got performed pretty well last week and some consistency in selection is good for them as well especially when it comes to combinations."

Blackadder said the champion Crusaders, apart from needing to fix their goalkicking woes, had to become more hard-nosed.

"We've talked about the ruthlessness at times, our decision-making at critical times, and our inability to continue to put pressure on.

"It's silly little things like that that have hurt us. We seem to be on a bit of a learning curve every week and now we've got to go out and do it."

Blackadder said he thought the Waratahs would play a more expansive game than in the earlier rounds.

"But they've been playing winning rugby and it doesn't matter how ugly it looks when you are winning. They've got a really sound set piece, they've got a really good scrum and lineout and they look for mistakes to transfer pressure into points."

The former Crusaders captain-turned-coach said the Crusaders had to adapt to whatever style the Waratahs adopted, but believed the home team would stick to a structured game.

Lock Ross Filipo was a casualty of selection today.

Last week the 2008 All Blacks tourist came off the reserve bench but this week he has been omitted from the 22-man team with Isaac Ross staying to lock the scrum with Brad Thorn.

"Isaac is playing well and was voted player of the day last game which tells you something about his contribution," Blackadder said.

"Roscoe (Filipo) is a good tough player but his form hasn't been quite right at the moment. We're addressing that and I don't think it is a major issue - it's typical of what all players go through at some stage of their careers."

Last year the Crusaders beat the Waratahs 34-7 in their round-robin match at Christchurch, then downed the Australian team 20-12 in the final, also at Christchurch.

Crusaders
Leon MacDonald, Adam Whitelock, Tim Bateman, Ryan Crotty, Colin Slade, Stephen Brett, Andy Ellis, Thomas Waldrom, George Whitelock, Kieran Read (captain), Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Bronson Murray, Jason Macdonald, Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: Dan Perrin, Owen Franks, Michael Paterson, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Hamish Gard, Blair Cook

- NZPA