Israel Folau, Cam Clark, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Alex Newsome, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper (c), Ned Hanigan, Rob Simmons, Jed Holloway, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Harry Johnson-Holmes

Reserves: Andrew Tuala, Rory O’Connor, Chris Talakai, Lachlan Swinton, Michael Wells, Jake Gordon, Mack Mason, Karmichael Hunt

Predictions:

1. Crusaders by 28

2. SCG to be bullshit like last time

Hunt not starting at 12 means the backline will be as good as it was against the Brumbies. Not sure this would be worth the six hour round trip to watch.

Crusaders

1 George Bower
2 Codie Taylor
3 Owen Franks
4 Quinten Strange
5 Sam Whitelock (c)
6 Jordan Taufua
7 Matt Todd (vc)
8 Whetukamokamo Douglas
9 Bryn Hall
10 Brett Cameron
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (vc)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Braydon Ennor
15 David Havili

Reserves:
16 Andrew Makalio
17 Harry Allan
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Luke Romano
20 Tom Sanders
21 Ereatara Enari
22 Mitch Hunt
23 Will Jordan

There are just two changes to the Crusaders side that was named to play the Highlanders last weekend, before that match was cancelled in Dunedin. Scott Barrett has been rested this week, Quinten Strange will start, and Luke Romano has been named on the bench. The only other change sees Brett Cameron come in at first five-eighth in place of Richie Mo'unga. Mitch Hunt has recovered from his concussion to provide cover for Cameron in the reserves.

This will be Owen Franks' 150th game for the Crusaders (149th Investec Super Rugby game).

So they can make exceptions to the ABs rest breaks for Dmac and Retallick, but not for Mo'unga and Scott Barrett. Maybe because they expect the Chiefs not to reach the finals and the Crusaders to go all the way?

@Stargazer Yeah seems strange one rule for some one rule for others.

@Stargazer I would have expected last week to count as a rest, unless they count the training time as well?

Maybe Razor was always planning on resting them this week and decided not to change his plan?

@Kirwan That's exactly the reason given. Because they trained all week, it apparently doesn't count as a rest break, despite not playing the game on Saturday.

Richie Mo'unga and Scott Barrett will miss the Crusaders' emotional return to Super Rugby in Sydney on Saturday night. 

The pair are not permitted to play in the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to All Blacks enforced leave, despite last weekend's fixture against the Highlanders in Dunedin being cancelled in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack. 

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson confirmed the canned fixture did not reset their streak of played games because they trained with the team last week. The agreement with New Zealand Rugby is that the players sit out the week entirely. 

@taniwharugby said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:

Maybe Razor was always planning on resting them this week and decided not to change his plan?

After all, why take a full strength side to Sydney unless you're worried about for/against?

@Stargazer ok, that makes sense then.

Just been relayed some information regarding the Crusaders winning streak..according to SANZAR even though the Saders v Landers match was abandoned,.therefore the Crusaders winning streak is officially over..a bit unfair if you ask me,after all no game was played even though there points for the draw given out.thoughts..?

@Steven-Harris Well... it is shit in the context of what happened last week.

@NTA perspective fair enough.

@Steven-Harris Yeah not sure that kind of stat is going to matter when the Crusaders romp to yet another title.

That's just dumb, the game was cancelled, they didn't play out a draw. FFS, fishheads are idiots sometimes.

Well, official or not, their winning streak is only over on paper, not in the real world. You can't win, not-win, draw, lose or not-lose if you don't play.

Also, even if they've officially lost their winning streak, they still have a non-losing streak.

@Nepia said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:

That's just dumb, the game was cancelled, they didn't play out a draw. FFS, fishheads are idiots sometimes.

Defies logic and frankly, if true, belief.

However, these are the same people that have spent the past half dozen years working assiduously to kill the golden goose that is Super rugby, so it won't surprise me.

@Stargazer said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:

Well, official or not, their winning streak is only over on paper, not in the real world. You can't win, not-win, draw, lose or not-lose if you don't play.

Also, even if they've officially lost their winning streak, they still have a non-losing streak.

QFT streak still going, fucking tossers