Crusaders shock with positional switch for All Blacks star ahead of Fijian Drua clash
Crusaders speedster Sevu Reece and hooker Codie Taylor.
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has sprung a surprise by naming Sevu Reece at outside centre for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific encounter with the Fijian Drua in Suva.
The experienced All Blacks flyer will play in his new position for the first time in his Super Rugby career as one of several changes to the Crusaders team which lost to Moana Pasifika in Christchurch last week.
With Reece wearing the number 13 jersey, Dallas McLeod shifts to inside centre while Taha Kemara replaces Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor as the starting fly-half.
Kemara is joined by Noah Hotham in the half-backs while All Blacks star Will Jordan continues at full-back and he is joined in the back three by Chay Fihaki and Macca Springer, who will start on the wings.
Codie Taylor takes over the captaincy
There are several changes in the forwards with Codie Taylor coming in at hooker at the expense of Ioane Moananu and the All Blacks veteran will also captain the side in the absence of regular skipper David Havili.
He is joined in the front-row by fellow All Black George Bower and Seb Calder, who replaces another New Zealand international in Fletcher Newell.
In the back-row, Christian Lio-Willie takes Fletcher Anderson’s spot at number eight while Tom Christie and Corey Kellow take over from Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace as the starting flankers.
There are two more changes in the second-row where Antonio Shalfoon and Tahlor Cahill come in for Jamie Hannah and All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett, who is being rested.
Reece’s selection is the most fascinating of the alterations, and he is looking forward to the challenge which awaits him in Suva.
“I’m so excited. Before I played on the wing, before I moved down to the Crusaders, I was playing centre, and it wasn’t until I moved down here that I played on the wing,” he said.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to play centre at this level – to test myself against the best of the best and getting that opportunity this week in front of my family back in Fiji, what a place to play centre – I can’t even find the words, I’m just so excited – thank you Pens!”
Meanwhile, Taylor expects a tough challenge from the Drua, who clinched a narrow 25-24 victory over the Crusaders in Lautoka in 2023.
“We need the mindset that we have to go to work over there – the reality is it’s going to hurt, but the team that stays the most connected and nails the basics will win the game and that’s been our focus, ” he said.
Penney is keen for his charges to return to winning ways after their shock Round Seven loss at home to Moana.
“It was awful last week, but we’ve addressed our performance, the coaching staff and the leaders have done a great job of setting the tone for the week,” he said.
“The boys are going to have to grit their teeth and bear it and do what needs to be done for their teammates this weekend.”
Crusaders team to face the Fijian Drua
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Sevu Reece, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Corey Kellow, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Tahlor Cahill, 3 Seb Calder, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Levi Aumua
Date: Saturday, April 5
Venue: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Kick-off: 16:35 local (05:35 BST, 04:35 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Jackson Henshaw (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Photo credit: James Foy/Speed Media AU/Iconsportswire
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