Rugby: Read to celebrate 100 matches

Kieran Read will celebrate his 100th match for the Crusaders when his team play the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday. Photo / Getty Images.

Kieran Read will celebrate his 100th match for the Crusaders when his team play the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday.

No8 Read, the Crusaders' captain, made his debut for the franchise in 2007. He made his first-class debut a year earlier for Canterbury after making the move from Auckland, where he went to school.

"This is my team. I have been playing for the Crusaders virtually since my professional rugby career began and I feel very proud to have represented this team for 100 games,'' Read said. ``When you look at the other players who have achieved 100 games for the Crusaders, you realise what an honour it is. Being selected for an award is one thing, but being selected for the Crusaders team 100 times is a real reflection of the hard work I've put in over the years and something I can feel truly proud of.''

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has made just one change to the team that beat the Melbourne Rebels two weeks ago.

With Tim Perry nursing a hamstring strain, loosehead prop Daniel Lienert-Brown has been called into the squad.

The Crusaders team to play the Hurricanes at AMI Stadium on Friday, kick-off 7.35pm is: Israel Dagg, Nafi Tuitavake, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, Luke Whitelock, Samuel Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Nepo Laulala, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Mitchell Drummond, Kieron Fonotia, Nemani Nadolo.

Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Alapati Leiua, Conrad Smith (c), Tim Bateman, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Ben Franks. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Chris Eves, John Schwalger, Mark Reddish, Ardie Savea, Billy Guyton, Matt Proctor, Marty Banks.