Rugby: Turmoil not on coach's agenda

Todd Blackadder. Photo / Getty Images

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is concentrating solely on a playoffs spot - not on the turmoil in the Hurricanes camp.

"I don't care about that to be honest. It's all about us making sure that we turn up ready to perform. I know they've got a lot going on in their [Hurricanes] camp but that's not our concern. We've got a win we want to get our hands on and we want to put on a good performance and get our season back on track.

"I think it is more of a mind-set for the players, more about making better decisions when we're on attack. We're working hard then releasing a lot of pressure. We need to make sure we can hold on to the ball for longer periods and ask more questions of the defence."

Blackadder said after reviewing the 23-16 win against the Blues last Saturday, he thought the Crusaders had dodged a bullet.

"While we were good and did some things really well we weren't clinical and that was a hangover from the Reds game where we had our chances."

Ryan Crotty comes in at second five-eighths for the injured Sonny Bill Williams in the only change to the starting line-up that faced the Blues.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has named an unchanged lineup.

Hammett has made three changes to the reserves, but kept faith with the starting 15 that drew 18-18 against the Chiefs in Hamilton last Friday.

The match will be the final game for the franchise for captain Andrew Hore, second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu and props John Schwalger and Neemia Tialata.

Stalwart Rodney So'oialo, who is leaving to play for the Honda Heat in Japan, fails to make the squad.

Lock Jeremy Thrush will make his 50th appearance for the Hurricanes, while the changes on the bench see third-choice hooker Laurence Corlett, who will make his Super rugby debut if he takes the field, replace Dane Coles, while prop Anthony Perenise, who is also going offshore, takes over from Jacob Ellison and halfback Chris Eaton gets the nod ahead of Tyson Keats.

Canes v Crusaders

Wellington, 7.35 tonight

Cory Jane
Julian Savea
Alapati Leiua
Ma'a Nonu
Hosea Gear
Aaron Cruden
Piri Weepu
Victor Vito
Jack Lam
Faifili Levave
James Broadhurst
Jeremy Thrush
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore (c)
John Schwalger

Reserves: Laurence Corlett, Anthony Perenise, Jason Eaton, Mark Reddish, Chris Eaton, Jayden Hayward, Richard Buckman

Tom Marshall
Brent Ward
Robbie Fruean
Ryan Crotty
Zac Guildford
Dan Carter
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read (c)
Matt Todd
George Whitelock
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Corey Flynn
Ben Franks

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett, Luke Romano, Jonathan Poff, Willi Heinz, Mat Berquist, Tu Umaga-Marshall