Rugby: Cruden back to boost young Chiefs . NZ Herald

The return of Aaron Cruden highlights a young Chiefs team named to tackle the Crusaders in Saturday's Super Rugby opener in Christchurch.

Cruden will be returning to the scene of his last competitive action on a rugby field, having been out of action since rupturing knee ligaments at AMI Stadium last April.

And the Chiefs will need the guiding hand of the first five, alongside a trio of fellow All Blacks, in what shapes as an inexperienced 23-man squad.

Only Cruden (56), San Cane (65), Brodie Retallick (59) and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (56) have made more than 50 Super Rugby appearances for the Chiefs, with the remainder of the team consisting of talented younger players or Super Rugby rookies.

Four players in the run-on XV will make their debut in the competition, with Shaun Stevenson winning the right wing battle to be the only new face in the backs. Tom Sanders and Taleni Seu will join Cane in the loose forwards, while Japanese prop Hiroshi Yamashita will also be making his first start in the front row.

"Our 23 is a blend of youth and experience with several players making their Super Rugby debuts," coach Dave Rennie said. "We're really happy with the hard work and development that's gone into the past three months.

"History tells us that Chiefs and Crusaders clashes are physical and high paced encounters and I'm sure this weekend will be no different."

Chiefs team to play the Crusaders at AMI Stadium on Saturday night:

1. Pauliasi Manu
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Hiroshi Yamashita
4. Michael Allardice
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Taleni Seu
7. Sam Cane (co-captain)
8. Tom Sanders
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Aaron Cruden (co-captain)
11. James Lowe
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Seta Tamanivalu
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves:
16. Nathan Harris
17. Mitchell Graham
18. Siate Tokolahi
19. Maama Vaipulu
20. Johan Bardoul
21. Brad Weber
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Latu Vaeno

- NZ Herald

 No Wayne Smith as coach this year will weaken the team. Rennie is a good coach but he needs talented coaches around him. A lot of turnover again for the Chiefs (no Messam or SBW). They have managed to find good talent in the past so we will see how this group blends. Canes or Landers look more likely to win the NZ comp this year but never count the Chiefs out.

 JW
The team contains quite a number of unknowns - as are the other Super Rugby teams in New Zealand.  I think the problem remains and that is that NZ teams have the loosies - but there is a serious deficiency in all their Tight 5's.  However, among the loosies there seems to be a revolution as well.   
We will have to see how the teams perform - but I doubt whether the above team will get anywhere near the play-offs.
However, there are too many unknowns this year in Super Rugby and I would really not make forecasts.   The only NZ team uin New Zealand I am impressed by at this stage is the Blues - so lets wait and see what happens.