Rugby: Chiefs' Cane to keep tabs on McCaw

New All Black flanker Sam Cane will start for the Chiefs against the Crusaders on Friday night. Photo / Getty Images.

The Chiefs' loose forwards have been re-shuffled for the Crusaders match in Hamilton on Friday night, with No8 Kane Thompson ruled out with a back injury and new All Blacks' flanker Sam Cane starting.

Thompson has been replaced by Alex Bradley, with Cane coming in for Tanerau Latimer and marking All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

With Dan Carter passed fit to play for the Crusaders and Aaron Cruden named for the Chiefs, the two All Blacks' first-fives will also face off.

Sona Taumalolo comes in at tighthead prop, replacing Toby Smith, and Andrew Horrell comes in for Jackson Willison at centre in other changes to the Chiefs' team that beat the Highlanders 27-21 in Dunedin last weekend.

The Chiefs team to play the Crusaders at Waikato Stadium on Friday, kick-off 7.35pm: Robbie Robinson, Tim Nanai-Williams, Andrew Horrell, Sonny Bill Williams, Aseali Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Alex Bradley, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (c), Ben Tameifuna, Mahonri Schwalger, Sona Taumalolo. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Toby Smith, Romana Graham, Tanerau Latimer, Brendon Leonard, Jackson Willison, Lelia Masaga.