There will be more than just a place in the Super Rugby semi-final when the Crusaders and the Hurricanes lock horns in their semifinal at Rugby League Park on Saturday at 9.35am.
With the Rugby Championship and the World Cup around the corner, players will know this is their final roll of the dice to get their name penciled down as the first-choice for New Zealand.
The big battle in that regard sees All Blacks incumbent Beauden Barrett square off against the Crusaders’ Richie Mo’unga, the man who wants to dethrone him.
When the two teams clashed at the same stage last year, it was Mo’unga and the defending champions that won that battle 30-12.
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Mo’unga also came out trumps in that battle with Barrett, scoring 15 points on the day.
But while the Crusaders have dominated Super Rugby over the past few seasons, they are wary of the threat the Canes pose.
Crusaders boss Scott Robertson says: “They’re well-coached, with genuine attacking threats across the park, so we know there is a massive challenge ahead of us this weekend.”
CONTENDER: Richie Mo'unga of the Crusaders. photo: John Davidson.
Meanwhile, rookie winger Salesi Rayasi has been given a chance at redemption after he was named to start for the Hurricanes.
Rayasi scored two tries when he came off the bench to replace the injured Wes Goosen in the quarterfinal against the Bulls.
But he also conceded a penalty try, received a yellow card and failed to stop
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Cornal Hendricks scoring a try with a weak tackle.
The 22-year-old is the only change to the starting line-up from the Bulls game, with Goosen ruled out due to the injury he sustained last week.
Hurricanes scrumhalf TJ Perenara, meanwhile, will become his side’s most-capped player with his 127th appearance.
Meanwhile in the Crusaders camp, flanker Jordan Taufua will make his 100th appearance for the team from the bench.
Crusaders:
15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Whetu Douglas, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 George Bower, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor.
Hurricanes:
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Salesi Rayasi, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Ben May, 19 Kane Le’aupepe, 20 Vaea Fifita, 21 Richard Judd, 22 James Marshall, 23 Jonah Lowe.