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The Crusaders will face the Highlanders at their New Zealand South Island derby Friday in Christchurch.
Both teams have two games to play before the round of 16 of the tournament. the defending champions and current luminaries, the crusaders will be determined to finish the league phase on a high, while the Highlanders are desperate for the win to consolidate their place among the play-off positions.
Dunedin's men head to that game after a poor overall performance in their previous game, which they lost 45-22 against the Chiefs in Suva last week.
The crusaders, meanwhile, will be poked a bit to have a positive impact because they had a bye last week after the three-week break for the June tests.
There will be a lot of fanfare in the Crusader ranks for this match, as it will be a memorable occasion for their All Blacks convertible, Wyatt Crockett, w He's poised to become the first player in the history of the Super Rugby to play 200 games in the competition.
The games between these two teams are usually exciting because they like to run the ball from all areas of the field and with attackers like David. Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue and Richie Mo 'unga in the ranks of the crusaders and equally impressive hitters like Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and Rob Thompson lined up alongside powerful playmakers in Lima Sopoaga and Aaron Smith, that should be another success
Although the Crusaders have won nine of their last 12 games against the Highlanders, they will be vindictive since they were defeated 25-17 when these teams met in Dunedin earlier this season .
Despite last week 's Chiefs defeat, the Highlanders are a group that has the ability to surprise as they have done well at home and out this year.
Aaron Mauger has won three of his last five home games, with two of those three wins coming after they had been hanging out at halftime.
The last time these teams met: The Highlanders ended a series of three losses against the Crusaders. a 25-17 victory in a Round Five clash at Dunedin earlier this year. The 2015 champions dominated the Crusaders with three tries in pairs with Liam Coltman, Lima Sopoaga and Elliot Dixon. George Bridge and Bryn Hall scored visitors' trials
Team News: Crusader striker Wyatt Crockett will enter the story this week when he will make his 200th appearance in this meeting.
Scott Robertson, has named a solid team for the game, which also includes the return to the starting line of eight players from the All Blacks team, as well as the highly anticipated return of Kieran Read's number eight .
Sam Whitelock is back from his successful three-round series as captain of the All Blacks to start the lock and resume the captaincy, while Matt Todd and Ryan Crotty resume their respective roles as vice captains.
Crockett's 200th Super Rugby Match Be a special occasion as he will race on the "Wyatt Crockett Stadium" to take stock. It was announced earlier this week that the stadium would be renamed for this match in recognition of Crockett's feat.
Meanwhile, Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger made three changes to his starting XV for this game. At the bottom line that started last weekend's defeat against the Suva Chiefs, Richard Buckman shows up on the left wing to replace Tevita Li.
James Lentjes takes the place of Dillon Hunt flan during that Liam Coltman starts hooker in place of co-captain Ash Dixon, who falls on the bench of substitutes.
With 24 players named, Liam Squire is crossed with Elliot Dixon as he works his back from his shoulder injury. supported in the recent series of All Blacks Test with France. A final assessment of his physical condition will be made closer to the kickoff.
It could be a big night for the young Tasman lock, Pari Pari Parkinson. If he takes the field, it will be his debut in Super Rugby
Previous results:
2018: The Highlanders won 25-17 at Dunedin
2017: [19659025] The Crusaders win 17-00 at Christchurch (quarter-final)
2017: The Crusaders win 25-22 at Christchurch
2017: The Crusaders win 30-27 at Dunedin [19659023] 2016: Highlanders won 34-26 at Dunedin
2015: Highlanders won 20-25 at Christchurch
2015: The Crusaders won 26-20 at Dunedin
2014: Crusaders won 34-8 at Christchurch
The teams:
The Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo 'unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Frank s, 2 Andrew Ma kalio, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele [19659004] Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Richard Buckman, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Liam Squire / Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon (cc), 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Pari Pari Parkinson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Fletcher Smith
Date: Friday, July 6
Location: AMI Stadium, Christchurch [19659040] Kick off: 19:35 local (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Arbitrator: Brendon Pickerill
Arbitr the assistants: Mike Fraser, Jamie Nutbrown [1] 9659041] TMO: Aaron Paterson
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