Crusaders without All Blacks back-row for Super Rugby Pacific play-off

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named an unchanged starting line-up for their highly anticipated Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Blues in Christchurch on Friday.

However, they have suffered a setback after it was confirmed that All Blacks back-row Ethan Blackadder has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign due to a quadricep injury.

Double injury blow

The 28-year-old sustained the injury when he came on as a replacement in the Crusaders‘ quarter-final win over the Fijian Drua, and the defending champions will also be without the services of Zach Gallagher, who picked up a calf injury after he came on to replace Blackadder against the Drua.

With Blackadder and Gallagher sidelined, the only changes to the Crusaders’ matchday squad is on the replacements bench where Corey Kellow and Dominic Gardiner come in to take over from the injured forward duo.

Meanwhile, veteran All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock is still sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Robertson confirmed that Blackadder is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“Many weeks,” he told Stuff of the All Black’s yet-to-be-determined recovery timeline.

“He did a good job, as Ethan tends to do with it. We really feel for him, he trained so hard to get back, just his couple of little touches in that four minutes was pretty amazing… just shows what we’ve missed.”

Meanwhile, Will Jordan continues at full-back, and he is joined in the back three by Dallas McLeod and Leicester Fainga’anuku, who are the starting wings.

Richie Mo’unga and Mitchell Drummond continue as the halfback duo, while Jack Goodhue lines up at inside centre with Braydon Ennor alongside him in the number 13 jersey.

Strong pack of forwards

In the forwards, Christian Lio-Willie is the starting number eight, while Tom Christie and Sione Havili-Talitui continue as the two flankers. Captain Scott Barrett and Quinten Strange will begin in the second-row.

Up front, Code Taylor packs down at hooker alongside Tamaiti Williams and Oli Jager, who are the starting props.

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Dallas McLeod, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Sione Havili-Talitui, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Oli Jager, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Dominic Gardiner, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Chay Fihaki

Date: Friday, June 16
Venue: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)