Crusaders name team

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 9:00

Crusaders Ben Franks with Richie McCaw in support against the Chiefs in the Super Rugby match at McLean Park last year.

Ross Setford

The Crusaders have named four All Blacks who took the field in the Rugby World Cup final in their starting XV to face the Blues in Friday's Super 15 opener.

Kieran Read will captain the Crusaders and will be joined by fellow World Cup winners Andy Ellis, Sam Whitelock and Israel Dagg while Owen Franks, who started in the 8-7 win over France, will start on the bench.

Fellow World Cup All Black Ben Franks will also start while hooker Corey Flynn is on the bench with Quentin MacDonald starting in the two jersey.

All Black captain Richie McCaw and star first five-eighth Dan Carter remain rested with their spots replaced by youngsters Matt Todd and Tyler Bleyendaal respectively.

Former Highlanders lock Tom Donnelly will make his first start for the Crusaders. The four Whitelock brothers are all in the 22-man squad.

Robbie Fruean returns to centre and Ryan Crotty has recovered from a hamstring strain to start at second five. Adam Whitelock and Tom Taylor who have filled this position in the last two warm-up games are both named in the reserves.

Crusaders:

1. Wyatt Crockett

2. Quentin MacDonald

3. Ben Franks

4. Tom Donnelly

5. Samuel Whitelock

6. George Whitelock

7. Matt Todd

8. Kieran Read (capt)

9. Andy Ellis (vice capt)

10. Tyler Bleyendaal

11. Israel Dagg