11 Mar 2015

Sport: Nadolo set for return to Crusaders starting side

1:14 pm on 11 March 2015

The Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has hinted Flying Fijians winger Nemani Nadolo will be back in red and black this weekend.

The seven-times champions are coming off a bye week and have only won one of their opening three games.

Nadolo has played two matches for the Crusaders development team since returning from Japan and indicated last week he was keen to return to the top side.

Blackadder says the All Blacks quartet of Dan Carter, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read are all available this week and, along with Nadolo, are likely to be thrown in the deep end.

"Yeah probably those guys have been out [so] it's probably easier for them to start. A lot of pressure on those guys too - they haven't actually played a lot of rugby lately and they're coming into a team that's been under pressure but I think what we collectively need is the whole team to perform and a hell of a lot better than we've done in the previous game".

Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo

Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo Photo: PHOTOSPORT