All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue makes his Super Rugby return for the Crusaders this weekend, but they've lost All Blacks prop Joe Moody to injury.
Jack Goodhue. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Goodhue will start at second-five against the Rebels in Melbourne on Sunday evening.
Goodhue has been out of action for 12 months after suffering a serious knee injury playing against the Hurricanes in Wellington last April.
He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, he damaged his medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament attempting a tackle.
The Crusaders are now preparing for a four-match tour in Australia, starting with their Anzac weekend fixture against the Rebels, the last game in Super Rugby Pacific's 'Super Round'.
Goodhue will start alongside Braydon Ennor in the midfield, with David Havili being rested this week.
There are two further changes in the Crusaders backline to face the Rebels; Mitch Drummond joins the run-on team at halfback in place of Bryn Hall, while Will Jordan will sit out this weekend's match altogether and George Bridge takes the starting spot at fullback.
In the forwards, Joe Moody has been ruled out of the Crusaders tour of Australia with a knee injury he sustained against the Blues, meaning fellow All Black George Bower will start at loosehead prop and Tamaiti Williams joins the reserves.
In the Crusaders' second-row stocks, Sam Whitelock makes a timely return in the absence of regular Captain Scott Barrett (suspension), while there is a reshuffle in the loose forwards with Tom Christie also rested this week, with Ethan Blackadder moving to openside flanker, and Pablo Matera stepping into the starting side at six.
Hooker Codie Taylor will captain the side in the interim, while Whitelock and first five-eighth, Richie Mo'unga, have been named vice-captains.
Crusaders team to play the Melbourne Rebels:
1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor (C)
3. Oli Jager
4. Zach Gallagher
5. Sam Whitelock (VC)
6. Pablo Matera
7. Ethan Blackadder
8. Cullen Grace
9. Mitch Drummond
10. Richie Mo'unga (VC)
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. Jack Goodhue
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Sevu Reece
15. George Bridge
RESERVES:
16. Ricky Jackson
17. Tamaiti Williams
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Dominic Gardiner
20. Corey Kellow
21. Bryn Hall
22. Fergus Burke
23. Chay Fihaki