Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has made a number of changes from the side that lifted the Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy for the team's first match of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition against the Brumbies on Saturday.
Crusaders forward Codie Taylor. Photo: PhotoSport / Andrew Cornaga
Codie Taylor will become the Crusaders' 21st centurion and take on the captaincy duties with regular captain Scott Barrett dropping to the bench for the game in Christchurch.
Halfback Mitch Drummond and Will Jordan are rested and wing Sevu Reece is named on the bench.
In the forwards, Mitch Dunshea will partner Sam Whitelock as the starting locks and Brendon O'Connor joins the match day team in place of Sione Havili Talitui, who has been ruled out with concussion symptoms.
Bryn Hall has been named to start at halfback and in a backline reshuffle George Bridge drops to fullback, Leicester Fainga'anuku moves to the left wing and Braydon Ennor and Manasa Mataele both earn their first starts of the 2021 season.
Taylor's milestone match will be celebrated with a pre-match guard of honour from Sydenham Rugby Club as he leads the team out on to Orangetheory Stadium.
"Codie is not only a world-class player, he's an empathetic leader who knows how to get the best out of those around him and sets high standards in our environment," Robertson said.
Chiefs Head Coach Clayton McMillan has also made changes for his side's opening round game against the Western Force in Perth on Sunday morning.
Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris will join propping duo of Aidan Ross and Angus Ta'avao with Waikato hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho shifting to the bench and locks Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa'i complete the tight five.
An unchanged loose forward combination will round out the forward pack with Chiefs veteran Liam Messam covering in the reserves.
Co-captain Brad Weber will combine with All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie in the halves, shifting Bryn Gatland to the bench while the midfield combination of Alex Nankivell and All Black Anton Lienert-Brown remains unchanged.
Jonah Lowe shifts to the left wing with Shaun Stevenson starting on the right wing and fullback Chase Tiatia moves into the starting side.
"We are excited for the opportunity to get back on the road again and play our counterparts over in Australia. We are disappointed we did not get the job done last weekend in Christchurch against the Crusaders. However, we are fortunate that this competition allows us to jump right back into work. It will test our environment and challenge us as a team to bounce back and deliver on the field once again," McMillan said.
Crusaders team to play the Brumbies:
1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor (C)
3. Michael Alaalatoa
4. Mitchell Dunshea
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Tom Sanders
8. Cullen Grace
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. David Havili (VC)
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Manasa Mataele
15. George Bridge
Reserves:
16. Brodie McAlister
17. Tamaiti Williams
18. Oliver Jager
19. Scott Barrett
20. Brendon O'Connor
21. Ereatara Enari
22. Fergus Burke
23. Sevu Reece
Chiefs team to play the Western Force:
1. Aidan Ross
2. Nathan Harris
3. Angus Ta'avao
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa'i
6. Pita Gus Sowakula
7. Lachlan Boshier
8. Luke Jacobson
9. Brad Weber
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Jonah Lowe
12. Alex Nankivell
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Chase Tiatia
Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukei'aho
17. Ollie Norris
18. Joe Apikotoa
19. Zane Kapeli
20. Liam Messam
21. Xavier Roe
22. Bryn Gatland
23. Bailyn Sullivan