Sonny Bill to taunt Sharks ... again

Published: Thursday, 23. June, 2011 in category Southern Hemisphere

The Crusaders welcome back three key players from injury for their Super Rugby qualifier against the Sharks in Nelson on Saturday.

Sonny Bill Williams is back at inside centre after missing last week's victory over the Hurricanes due to a hip injury.

Wing Sean Maitland returns from a mid-foot sprain suffered in the match against the Stormers in Cape Town on May 7, which has kept him out for six weeks.

And scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali'i is on the reserves bench after coming back from a knee injury suffered in the same match.

Williams replaces Ryan Crotty, Maitland comes in for Brent Ward, and Fotuali'i replaces Willi Heinz.

In another change, Wyatt Crockett replaces Ben Franks at loosehead prop.

Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder said: "It's great to be able to welcome back Sonny, Sean and Kahn. They've all been working extremely hard on their rehab to be fit for this match and they will get their reward on Saturday.

"It's an exciting prospect. It's great to be going back to Nelson where we've enjoyed great hospitality this season and the challenge in front of us is clear-cut. We have to win to progress in this competition."

This match at Trafalgar Park is a sudden-death play-off.

This is the second time the Crusaders and Sharks have played each other this season. The first was in the historic match at Twickenham in London in March which the Crusaders won 44-28.

Not considered due to injury were Richie McCaw (foot), Israel Dagg (thigh) and Adam Whitelock (chest muscle).

Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Ryan Crotty/Brent Ward.

Date: Saturday, June 25
Venue: Trafalgar Park , Nelson
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)