All Blacks centre Jack Goodhue returns to the Crusaders line-up as the only change for their Super Rugby showdown with the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Goodhue was missing from the team that edged the Blues 24-22 at Eden Park last week, with Braydon Ennor ably filling the number 13 jersey instead. Ennor slides to the bench this week.
"That's a bit tough on Braydon, but he's a young man," says assistant coach Brad Mooar. "It's great to be able to keep him in the 23, and bring his energy and play off the bench at some stage.
"It was hard, but you've also got to consider do we leave Jack out? They'll work together throughout the year, no-one's going to play every game and they will bring the best out of each other.
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"That's a great position to be in."
The notable absentee from the reserves is All Blacks prop Tim Perry, who broke his arm against the Blues and will miss several weeks. He is replaced by Harry Allan.
Perry's injury has put early pressure on starting loosehead Joe Moody, whose early workload is being monitored by national selectors in line to ensure key All Blacks are healthy for this year's World Cup.
Perry replaced Moody, as planned, after 48 minutes against the Blues, but lasted only five minutes, before the starter made an unexpected return.
"I thought my night was done, and had just sat down and got a few fluids on, then I was back in the mixer," says Moody.
"You just have to embrace it, but there is a second there where you think, 'aw, you bastard'."
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Jordan Taufua, 7-Matt Todd (cc), 8-Whetu Douglas, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-Ryan Crotty (cc), 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Manasa Mataele, 15-David Havili
Reserves: 16-Ben Funnell, 17-Harry Allan, 18-Michael Alaalatoa, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Tom Sanders, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Mitch Hunt, 23-Braydon Ennor
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Join us at 7:30pm Saturday for live updates of the Crusaders vs Hurricanes Super Rugby clash at Christchurch.
