Crusaders target rivals’ loose forwards

The Crusaders have signalled they intend to take on the pacy Waratahs loose forwards by omitting a specialist lock from the bench for the match in Sydney tonight.

Last weekend's bye allowed Crusaders coach Robbie Deans to freshen his players after their 41-19 win over the Blues and he has named the same starting XV to play the unbeaten Waratahs at Aussie Stadium.

Two changes have been made to the bench, with No 8 Sam Broomhall replacing lock Kevin O'Neill and wing Vilimoni Delasau brought in for the injured Scott Hamilton.

The decision to leave O'Neill out means blindside flanker Reuben Thorne will almost certainly move to lock once Norm Maxwell is substituted - probably in the second half - and flanker Sam Harding will join Richie McCaw in a left-right partnership.

Having two flankers with the speed of McCaw and Harding may enable the Crusaders to put the Waratahs trio of Phil Waugh, David Lyons and Wycliff Palu under pressure at the breakdown but it will leave them an option short in the lineouts.

Deans admitted that Maxwell, who played his first match in almost four months against the Blues, probably would not last the full 80 minutes.

"It's likely Normie will be a change - if there is one," Deans said. "We have options in Reuben, Sam [Broomhall] and Mose [Tuiali'i], who have locked the scrum, but we'll just look at the circumstances."

"If there's an injury and it happens early, we may look more to Sam Broomhall to do that job."

With both McCaw and Harding able to play at No 7, the Crusaders have already used them in a left-right combination this season - a ploy more commonly used by South African teams.

"We've done that in the past and it's obviously going to be a firm surface and a fast game," Deans said.

"They look to use the space and we look to use the space ... the likelihood is that both Sams [Broomhall and Harding] will make the ground and obviously they have the ability to keep up with the fast pace."

Deans has a lot of respect for the Waratahs loose forwards.

"They are a very effective loose forward combination, no doubt about it, they have every element there.

"Waugh's very good on the ground, Palu is a good carrier of the ball and is pretty intimidating down the inside channels defensively and Lyons carries well too ... That's going to be a fascinating duel around that area and it's going to be a really important area around that contact."

While the Crusaders will again field a starting team of current or former All Blacks, Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has made two changes. He has brought Palu in to replace Stephen Hoiles and hooker Adam Frier has pushed Brendan Cannon to the bench.

At 119kg, Palu impressed against the Crusaders in their pre-season match in February by making several damaging runs.

He played league for St George Illawarra last year and several years previously turned his life around after spending six months in jail for assault.

* Waratahs v Crusaders, Aussie Stadium, Sydney, tonight 9.40

- NZPA