Blues boosted by All Blacks gun for Super semi

The Blues person welcomed backmost almighty winger Caleb Clarke for Friday's opening Super Rugby Pacific semi-final connected Friday.

But the Crusaders volition beryllium without stalwart fastener Sam Whitelock for the rematch of past year's final.

The Chiefs and Brumbies volition sanction their teams connected Thursday.

Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific finals connected the location of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming advertisement free, unrecorded and connected demand

Champions flex musculus against Drua

CRUSADERS (2) vs BLUES (3) successful Christchurch, Friday 5.05pm kickoff AEST

The defending champion Crusaders volition proceed to beryllium without Sam Whitelock (Achilles) for the opening semi-final astatine Orangetheory Stadium connected Friday.

The Crusaders are hopeful their departing All Blacks lock volition beryllium acceptable for the final, should they advancement past the Blues.

"He's sitting successful meetings with his ft successful an crystal bucket and each sorts," chap Crusaders 2nd rower Quinten Strange said.

"He's doing everything, and I truly hope, for his sake, we tin get the occupation done and helium gets the accidental to deterioration the jersey 1 much time."

Crusaders manager Scott Robertson has named an unchanged starting broadside from the 1 that outclassed the Drua successful the quarter-finals.

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Stephen Hoiles and Justin Harrison are backing the Brumbies against the Chiefs and bespeak connected the Waratahs and Reds bowing retired of the Super Rugby Pacific finals

There are 2 changes connected the bench, however, with forwards Ethan Blackadder and Zach Gallagher ruled retired with injuries.

Their replacements are Dominic Gardiner and Corey Kellow.

Meanwhile, the Blues invited backmost almighty winger Caleb Clarke from an ankle wounded to their starting broadside arsenic a replacement for AJ Lam.

"He brings a constituent of quality astir the aerial game, if we contention successful the aerial and from kickoffs," Blues manager Leon MacDonald said.

"But it's besides his quality to bushed the archetypal defender and he's beauteous lethal adjacent to the enactment arsenic well, wherever he's truthful powerful. It's large to person him back."

CRUSADERS (15-1): Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Richie Mo'unga, Mitch Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili-Talitui, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams

Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O'Neill, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki

BLUES (15-1): Zarn Sullivan, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, Bryce Heem, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii (c), Akira Ioane, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Nepo Laulala, Ricky Riccitelli, Ofa Tuungafasi

Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta

Referee: Angus Gardner

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Debreczeni carves up Hurricanes

CHIEFS (1) vs BRUMBIES (4) successful Hamilton, Saturday 5.05pm kickoff AEST

CHIEFS (TBC)

BRUMBIES (TBC)

Referee: Nic Berry

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