The All Black midfielder Sonny Bill Williams will play his first game for the Crusaders on Friday night after being named to start at second five eighth for their Super rugby match against the New South Wales Waratahs in Nelson.
Williams has recovered from a stress fracture in his foot and will start alongside Robbie Fruean in the midfield.
Williams played seven games for Canterbury in last season's ITM Cup and made the All Blacks squad for the end of year tour to the United Kingdom.
Adam Whitelock, who played second-five in the round one match against the Blues, moves to the left wing, replacing the injured Tu Umaga-Marshall.
Two other changes occur to the make-up of the reserves, with Tasman player Quentin MacDonald back from a knee injury to take his place as reserve hooker.
Another Tasman player, Tom Marshall, replaces back Tyler Bleyendaal in the number 22 jersey.
The Crusaders players will be wearing the red and white jersey of the West Coast for the match in tribute to the 29 miners who lost their lives at Pike River.
The special edition adidas jersey features the West Coast Rugby Union emblem alongside the Crusaders logo.
These jerseys will be signed by the player who wore it and auctioned off on website TradeMe to raise money for the Pike River Mine families.
The Crusaders team to play the Waratahs at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, on Friday March 4th is:
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Owen Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Sam Whitelock
6. George Whitelock
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read (Capt)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Daniel Carter
11. Adam Whitelock
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Sean Maitland
15. Israel Dagg
Reserves:
16. Quentin MacDonald
17. Ben Franks
18. Chris Jack
19. Jonathan Poff
20. Willi Heinz
21. Matt Berquist
22. Tom Marshall
