Crusaders Name Round 15 Lineup for Chiefs Clash — Crusaders Vs Chiefs

The crusaders vs chiefs Round 15 matchup is set in Christchurch, with both sides naming their lineups for a top-four battle in the final two weeks of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season. David Havili leads the Crusaders, while Luke Jacobson will captain the Chiefs from number 7.

Crusaders load up at home

The Crusaders named George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Blackadder, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Dallas McLeod, Chay Fihaki and Will Jordan in the starting XV. Havili gets the captaincy in a side that keeps its core intact for a match that sits inside a tight top-four race.

Manumaua Leita, Jack Sexton, Seb Calder, Liam Jack, Dom Gardiner, Kyle Preston, Taha Kemara and Johnny McNicholl were named among the replacements. That gives the Crusaders eight options on the bench as they look to handle a Chiefs side with the same urgency built into its selection.

Luke Jacobson leads the Chiefs

The Chiefs answered with Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Sione Ahio, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Josh Jacomb, Kyren Taumoefolau, Quinn Tupaea, Kyle Brown, Liam Coombes-Fabling and Issac Hutchinson in the starting XV. Jacobson’s move to captain and start at number 7 gives the visitors a direct edge in the middle of the field.

Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Tepaea Cook-Savage and Daniel Rona were listed as the eight replacements. Marcus Playle and Fraser Hannon were named as assistant referees for the match, which keeps the focus on execution rather than conjecture in a round that carries direct top-four weight.

Christchurch and Round 15 stakes

With two weeks left in the regular season, this selection release does the only thing the teams needed done before kick-off: it shows exactly who will try to shape the standings in Christchurch. The Crusaders and Chiefs now carry their full named squads into a match where both benches, both captains and the first 15 on each side are already on the board.