Rugby: Crockett to captain Canterbury

Canterbury prop Wyatt Crockett. Photo / Getty Images

Prop Wyatt Crockett will captain Canterbury in their national provincial championship rugby match against Waikato in Hamilton on Friday night.

With flanker George Whitelock injured and halfback Andy Ellis called into the All Blacks squad, Crockett was today named to lead the side.

Willi Heinz comes in for Ellis while Ryan Crotty replaces new All Black Sonny Bill Williams at second five-eighth.

First five-eighth Colin Slade returns to the after after recovering from the hip injury which kept him out of Canterbury's 39-21 Ranfurly Shield defence against Counties-Manukau last Saturday.

In the forwards, Peter Borlase slots back into loosehead prop as a replacement for Owen Franks and lock Rob Verbakel gets his first start of the season in place of another international, Brad Thorn.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney is preparing his team for a tough battle in the top of the table match.

"Waikato are always tough at home and they will feed off their crowd.

"We'll hope to carry on our good form of the last couple of weeks as there is plenty on this match for both sides."

Meanwhile for Waikato Sitiveni Sivivatu has been released from his All Black commitments to take the number 22 jersey for this weekend.

There are also changes to Waikato's tight forwards with the return of Toby Smith to the number one jersey after sustaining a broken nose during the Otago game. Aled de Malmanche comes back from his groin injury to add his wealth of experience to the front row and celebrates his 50th game for Waikato.

In the loose forwards, Dominiko Waqaniburotu comes back into the number 6 jersey.

Try-scoring Malcolm Barnes remains in the starting halfback jersey with Tawera Kerr-Barlow bracketed with David Bason while Trent Renata comes back into the starting line-up with Stephen Donald away with his All Black commitments.

Brendon Leonard was not failed considered for selection after failing a concussion test.

Canterbury: Sean Maitland, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Telusa Veainu, Colin Slade, Willi Heinz, Nasi Manu, Matt Todd, Ash Parker, Isaac Ross, Rob Verbakel, Peter Borlase, Steve Fualau, Wyatt Crockett (captain).

Reserves: Paul Ngauamo, Andrew Olorenshaw, Tom Broughton, Brendon O'Connor, Takerei Norton, Stephen Brett, Sam Monaghan.

Waikato: Sosene Anesi, Henry Speight, Save Tokula, Jackson Willison, Dwayne Sweeney, Trent Renata, Malcolm Barnes, Alex Bradley, Jack Lam, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Romana Graham, Toby Lynn, Nathan White (Captain), Aled de Malmanche, Toby Smith.

Reserves: Hikairo Forbes, Ben May, Matt Vant Leven, Zak Hohneck, Tawera Kerr-Barlow/David Bason, Christian Lealiifano, Sitiveni Sivivatu

- NZPA