Highlanders v Crusaders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 26 April
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
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The Crusaders briefly took the top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder last weekend with their last gasp win over the Blues but have slipped back to second after the Chiefs pulverised the Highlanders the next night in Hamilton.
The two southern rivals now meet in Dunedin in front of what promises to be a big crowd under the roof, with the Crusaders keen to make up for what happened the last time they were there.
Team lists
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Soane Vikena, 3. Saula Mau, 4. Mitch Dunshea, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Sean Withy, 8. Will Stodart, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Jake Te Hiwi, 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Bench: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Sosefo Kautai, 19. Oliver Haig, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Sam Gilbert, 23. Josh Whaanga
Crusaders: 1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Xavier Saifoloi, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Macca Springer, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Dallas McLeod, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19. Tahlor Cahill, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Rivez Reihana, 23. Chay Fihaki
Highlanders selections
Timoci Tavatavanawai during the Highlanders v Hurricanes, Super Rugby Pacific match, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. Photo: Michael Thomas/ActionPress
Injuries have taken a toll on Jamie Joseph's side, with the outside backs the most affected this weekend. Timoci Tavatavanawai moves back out to the wing alongside Jonah Lowe, who gets his first start of the season. Sean Withy comes back from suspension to start on the openside.
Crusaders selections
Rivez Reihana. Photo: photosport
There's no room for last Friday's hero James O'Connor, who has been bumped off the bench for the returning Rivez Reihana. Macca Springer swaps places with Chay Fihaki in the starting side, while Xavier Saifoloi gets his starting debut at blinside.
Key stats
Tamaiti Williams of the Crusaders. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Highlanders will be looking to log back-to-back wins against the Crusaders for the first time since 2016.
The Crusaders have won nine of their last 11 Super Rugby Pacific games including their last three in a row and will be looking to win four consecutive games for the first time since Round 14, 2023.
Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams has scored one try in three of his last four Super Rugby Pacific games including in each of his last two. He had scored only one try across his previous 26 games in the competition.
The last time they met
Highlanders 32 - 29 Crusaders
These sides have a great history of putting on spectacular games and this was no exception, with the Highlanders shooting out to a 26-14 lead at the break thanks to tries to Tanielu Tele'a and Cam Millar. The second half was a tight, defensive battle with the Highlanders taking the right options, ultimately piling more misery on the Crusaders' season.
What's going to happen
This will be a high-scoring game you'd think, it's just up to the Highlanders to make sure that all those points aren't going to be scored against them. The Crusaders are in very good form but are susceptible to off days, as they found out the hard way against Moana Pasifika, so the Highlanders have to do their best to make sure it's one of those. One thing is for sure: the Zoo will have a very healthy and loud student section.
