July 4 (Reuters) – All Blacks Dan Carter, Kieran Reed and
Israel Dagg have all been recalled to the Canterbury Crusaders
team for this week’s Super Rugby showdown with the Waikato
Chiefs in Hamilton.
The seven-times champions lost to the Wellington Hurricanes
last week and defeat to the championship-leading Chiefs in their
penultimate match on Friday would almost certainly leave them
without a place in the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Carter was recalled at flyhalf after recovering from a
hamstring injury to take back the kicking duties after
replacement back Tyler Bleyendaal missed what would have been a
match-winning penalty from halfway last Saturday.
Number eight Reed, who has been in storming form for the
Crusaders and New Zealand this year, has been cleared to play
after a concussion, allowing Richie McCaw to return to his
favoured position on the openside flank.
Dagg missed last week’s match with an ankle injury but will
bring his attacking flair back to the team at fullback for the
match against the Chiefs, who would wrap up the New Zealand
conference title with victory this weekend.
“We really missed that experience last weekend,” Crusaders
coach Todd Blackadder told local media.
“When you look at the way they had been performing before
injury, they were absolutely on fire. It’s great to have them
back.”
The Chiefs have brought a big gun of their own into their
starting line-up side for Saturday’s clash with aggressive
Tongan prop Sona Taumalolo, who is the team’s top try scorer
this year, taking his place at loosehead.
Hulking number eight Kane Thompson has been ruled out by a
back injury but Sam Cane gets his first start at openside
flanker since making his All Blacks debut in last month’s test
series against Ireland.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by John O’Brien)
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