Rugby: Canterbury drops Sonny Bill

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

High profile recruit Sonny Bill Williams has been dropped to the reserves bench in Canterbury's side to play Wellington in the ITM Cup on Saturday.

Ryan Crotty returns from injury at second-five, meaning Williams goes to the bench.

Hooker Corey Flynn is back from All Blacks duty and starts in the front row, while Colin Slade is at first-five ahead of Stephen Brett.

The match will be played in front of a near capacity crowd at AMI Stadium with the free admission offered following the recent earthquakes in the region.

Meanwhile former All Black first five Stephen Donald is back in the Waikato starting fifteen to face Tasman on Saturday night.

Donald is one of five changes made by coach Chris Gibbes.

Ben May, Romana Graham and Alex Bradley come into the starting pack, while Donald and Henry Speight start in the backline.

Speight replaces Dwayne Sweeney who's been ruled out with a rib injury.

Canterbury:
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Peter Borlase
4. Luke Romano
5. Isaac Ross
6. Matt Todd
7. George Whitelock (c)
8. Nasi Manu
9. Andy Ellis
10. Colin Slade
11. Telusa Veainu
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tu Umaga-Marshall
15. Sean Maitland

Reserves:
16. Steve Fualau
17. Andrew Olorenshaw
18. Rob Verbakel
19. Ash Parker
20. Willi Heinz
21. Stephen Brett
22. Sonny Bill Williams

- NEWSTALK ZB