Same again for Crusaders as Ellis reaches 50

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has kept the faith with his selections for the first round by naming them for the second round in the Super 14 in which his team will take on the Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Halfback Andy Ellis will play his 50th game for the Crusaders when he takes to the field on Friday.

Ellis made his debut for the Crusaders in 2006, coincidentally against the Reds.

Blackadder has named an unchanged starting line-up for the Reds match after the Crusaders beat the Highlanders 32-17 at AMI Stadium on Saturday but made one change on the bench.

The only change to the 22 for the Crusaders is the inclusion of prop Wyatt Crockett on the reserves bench in place of Peter Borlase.

Crockett sprained an ankle playing against the Reds at Ballymore in pre-season and hasn’t played since.

Ellis scored the first try in that match - a close-range effort from a ruck. He had a good all-round game and will be looking to take that form into the Reds game against Wallabies halfback Will Genia.

The Crusaders will be looking for another good start to their next match after impressing with their intensity against the Highlanders.

With Dan Carter calling the shots at first-five and centre Robbie Fruean looking powerful in his first game for the Crusaders, only scrambling defence from the Highlanders kept the home side out.

The weight of possession and territory told in the end however, and it was a good sign that three wings scored tries for the Crusaders - Jared Payne, Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland. The latter came off the bench to help set up Guildford’s try and dotted down himself on fulltime with an irresistible surge.

After the Reds clash the Crusaders face the Sharks at AMI Stadium on Friday, February the 26th.