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Hamilton and Somerville return for Crusaders
Friday 7 March 2008
Super14.com - Super 14 rugby
Winger Scott Hamilton and props Greg ‘Yoda’ Somerville and Ben Franks have returned to the Crusaders starting line-up for Sunday evening’s Rebel Sport Super 14 tie against the Western Force in Perth.
Hamilton returns to the team after he flew back to New Zealand for personal reasons following the Bulls match. Somerville started from the bench at Newlands and was not required until the last 20 minutes of the contest.
After starting in each of the Crusaders’ first two wins, Franks was allowed to miss that fixture as Crusaders coaches Robbie Deans and Mark Hammett spread the work load amongst the squad’s front rowers.
“We were very happy with what the two props who started last week [Wyatt Crockett and Campbell Johnstone] contributed, but, before then, Ben and Greg had been playing well too,” Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said on the team's website.
“There has been strong competition for places throughout the team. The front row is just one playing unit within the group which highlights that.”
Deans is not taking the Force lightly and points out that 12 of the Force’s 29 Super rugby matches to date have been decided by margins of a converted try or less, including all three games played this season – while they have also had two draws.
“They raise the bar when they are asked too, and this is especially the case when they are playing at home. That makes them a very difficult opponent,” Deans says.
Although the Crusaders depart for home after the match, jetting out of Perth at midnight, Deans says they will be working hard to make sure the travel plans don’t become a distraction.
“Concentration on the task at hand will be vital,” he says.“We have already achieved something on this trip – in terms of coming through South Africa unbeaten – that hasn’t been done by the Crusaders in a while [since 2002]. "
"Sunday provides us with the chance to do something we have never done before – by winning a game in Perth. We are not going to be able to achieve that unless we ignore all peripheral issues and focus totally on the task at hand.”
Crusaders Team
1. Ben Franks
2. Corey Flynn,
3. Greg Somerville,
4. Brad Thorn,
5. Ali Williams,
6. Kieran Read,
7. Richard McCaw (captain),
8. Mose Tuiali’i,
9. Andrew Ellis,
10. Daniel Carter,
11. Caleb Ralph,
12. Stephen Brett,
13. Casey Laulala,
14. Scott Hamilton,
15. Leon MacDonald,
Reserves:,16. Ti’i Paulo,17. Wyatt Crockett,18. Reuben Thorne,19. Nasi Manu,20. Kahn Fotuali’i,21. Tim Bateman,22. Sean Maitland.
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