The HSBC Waratahs will be looking to maintain an unbeaten start to season 2011 when they face the Crusaders in round three of Super Rugby at Trafalgar Park, Nelson. The fixture was moved to the home of the Tasman Makos NPC side after Christchurch’s AMI Stadium was deemed unplayable following last week’s earthquake.
Almost 2000 temporary seats were still being installed during the HSBC Waratahs captain’s run on Thursday, bringing the ground’s capacity to 12,000. Less than 500 seats are still available for the match.
NSW has played at the ground just once before, recording a 13-4 victory over Nelson more than a century ago in 1894.
While the Tahs will be hoping for a third straight victory, the Crusaders are still striving for the first win of the season after a two-point loss to the Blues in round one and the abandonment of their week two fixture against the Hurricanes.
Adding further significance to the match already affected by the Christchurch earthquake, the Crusaders will wear the West Coast rugby club jersey in a tribute to the victims of November’s Pike River mining disaster.
The Tahs have made minimal changes to the match day 22 which has taken them to victories in the opening two rounds. Daniel Halangahu moves into the No.10 jersey with Berrick Barnes rested after suffering a head knock against the Reds on Saturday. Afa Pakalani moves onto the bench and if used will make his NSW and Super Rugby debut. Pat McCutcheon has also been named on the reserves list in place of Chris Alcock.
HSBC Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh will captain his side for the 50th time in Super Rugby tonight, while prop Al Baxter will make his 118th appearance for NSW taking him equal with Chris Whitaker on the all-time list. Only Waugh, who makes his 130th appearance, has more state caps in the 129-year history of NSW Rugby.
The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 1 HD, while the match will also be heard live across Australia on ABC Grandstand Digital Radio and streamed online at www.abc.net.au from 5:30pm AEDT.
2011 Super Rugby – Round 3
CRUSADERS v HSBC WARATAHS
Friday 4 March 2011
Trafalgar Park, Nelson NZL
Kick-off: 7:35pm NZT, 5:35pm AEDT
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZL)
Assistant Referees: Kane McBride (NZL) & Richard Kelly (NZL)
Television Match Official: Garratt Williamson (NZL)
Television: LIVE Fox Sports 1 & Fox Sports 1HD from 5:30pm AEDT
Radio: Live on ABC Grandstand Digital streamed online at www.abc.net.au from 5:30pm AEDT
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nswwaratahs #CRUvWAR
Weather: 16-23C. Morning rain clearing in the afternoon. Northerly winds gusting to 25km/h
CRUSADERS
HSBC WARATAHS
Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay)
15
Kurtley Beale (Randwick)
Sean Maitland (Canterbury)
14
Lachie Turner (Eastwood)
Robbie Fruean (Canterbury)
13
Rob Horne (Southern Districts)
Sonny Bill Williams (Canterbury)
12
Tom Carter (Sydney University)
Adam Whitelock (Canterbury)
11
Drew Mitchell (Balmain)
Dan Carter (Canterbury)
10
Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University)
Andy Ellis (Canterbury)
9
Luke Burgess (Sydney University)
Kieran Read (Canterbury)
8
Ben Mowen (Randwick)
Matt Todd (Canterbury)
7
Phil Waugh# [c] (Sydney University)
George Whitelock (Canterbury)
6
Dave Dennis (Sydney University)
Sam Whitelock (Canterbury)
5
Kane Douglas (Southern Districts)
Brad Thorn (Canterbury)
4
Dean Mumm (Sydney University)
Owen Franks (Canterbury)
3
Al Baxter~ (Northern Suburbs)
Corey Flynn (Canterbury)
2
Tatafu Polota-Nau** (Parramatta)
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)
1
Sekope Kepu (Randwick)
Reserves
Quentin MacDonald (Tasman)
16
Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood)
Ben Franks (Tasman)
17
Benn Robinson (Eastwood)
Chris Jack (Tasman)
18
Sitaleki Timani (Southern Districts)
Jonathan Poff (Tasman)
19
Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University)
Willi Heinz (Canterbury)
20
Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs)
Matt Berquist (Auckland)
21
Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs)
Tom Marshall (Tasman)
22
Afa Pakalani*^ (Randwick)
Todd Blackadder
Coach
Chris Hickey
^ NSW State Debut
* Super Rugby Debut
~ 118th NSW Super Rugby Cap (Phil Waugh 129*, Chris Whitaker 118)
# 50th Super Rugby match as NSW Captain
** 69th NSW Super Rugby Cap (=10th with Brendan Cannon)
Caps
11 by Chris Whitaker (1997-2006)
11 by Phil Waugh (2000-2010)
11 by Chris Whitaker (1997-2006)
11 by Phil Waugh (2000-2010)
Tries
3 by Nick Farr-Jones (1987-92)
3 by Tim Gavin (1987-97)
3 by Nathan Grey (1998-2005)
3 by Mat Rogers (2002-05)
3 by Morgan Turinui (2003-07)
3 by Lachie Turner (2007-10)
3 by Nathan Grey (1998-2005)
3 by Mat Rogers (2002-05)
3 by Morgan Turinui (2003-07)
3 by Lachie Turner (2007-10)
Conversions
6 by David Knox (1986-92)
6 by Matt Burke (1994-2002)
6 by Peter Hewat (2005-07)
6 by Matt Burke (1994-2002)
6 by Peter Hewat (2005-07)
Penalty Goals
16 by Matt Burke (1994-2002)
16 by Matt Burke (1996-2004)
Drop Goals
1 by Glen Ella (1980-1987)
1 by Nick Farr-Jones (1987-92)
n/a
Points
60 by Matt Burke (1994-2002)
60 by Matt Burke (1996-2002)
Points in a Match
28 by Mat Rogers (1t, 4c, 5p)
Lancaster Park 2004
28 by Mat Rogers (1t, 4c, 5p)
Lancaster Park 2004
Highest Score
43 at Lancaster Park 2004
43 at Lancaster Park 2004
Biggest Win
43-19 at Lancaster Park 2004
43-19 at Lancaster Park 2004
Biggest Loss
19-96 at Lancaster Park 2002
19-96 at Lancaster Park 2002
1882-1994 Canterbury
1996-1999 Canterbury Crusaders
2000-present Crusaders
1996-1999 Canterbury Crusaders
2000-present Crusaders
