Crusaders vs. Highlanders: Will The Injury Make It Tough for Crusaders?

The Crusaders respect the Highlanders' danger before of Friday's DHL Super Rugby clash in Christchurch because of the South Island rivalry and last year's setback at home.

Crusaders – Playing Without Their Three Injured Players

All Blacks Joe Moody and Braydon Ennor, as well as Puma Pablo Matera, have returned to assist overcome the loss of three injured Crusaders.

Everything is black. Sam Whitelock (broken finger) will be out for at least four weeks, hooker Brodie McAlister (calf) will be out for four to six weeks, and lock Mitchell Dunshea (knee) will be out for the season.

Following their greatest performance of the season last week against the Chiefs in Hamilton, Robertson has made only a few changes, including inserting wing Sevu Reece into the starting lineup for Chay Fihaki and swapping halfbacks Mitchell Drummond and Bryn Hall.

Line Up:

15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.

The Highlanders – Bolstered Their Bench

The Highlanders have restocked their pack and bolstered their bench in preparation for the South Island rivalry.

Former Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio has been awarded the No. 2 jersey as the Highlanders want to capitalize on his expertise ahead of what is expected to be a tumultuous clash upfront. Veterans Bryn Evans and Josh Hohneck also start, with Jermaine Ainsley and Manaaki Selby-Rickit providing impact off the bench, featuring All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot.

Line up:

Joe Moody, Codie Taylor (VC), Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett (C), Quinten Strange, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Mitch Drummond, Richie Mo'unga, George Bridge, David Havili (VC), Leicester Fainga'anuku, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, Shilo Klein, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Zach Gallagher*, Pablo Matera, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Braydon Ennor.

Expert Betting Tips

Despite having a changed lineup with most of the players injured, the odds are still in favor of the Crusaders, and the replacements are expected to perform way better than the actual players. However, Highlanders won’t make it easy for Crusaders as well.

• Total Under 51.5 for 2.18;
• Handiсap Highlanders (+16.5) for 1.80;
• European Handicap 0:27 Crusaders for 3.60.

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