Highlanders
Hooker (3): Hore, Mitchell, Coltman
Prop (3): Fia, King, Woodcock
Lock (3): Bekhuis, Hoeata, Wheeler
Loose Forward (4): Boys, Hardie, Manu, Tietjens
Halfback (1): Smith
First Five (2): Sopoaga, Slade
Centre (4): Nonu, Emery, Ellison, Treeby
Outside Back (2): Gear, Poki, Smith
Possible Other Players:
- J Mackintosh
- B Thorn
- A Thomson
- P Grant
- F Tanaka
- H Parker
- T Ensor
- B Popali'i
Possible Top 22:
1 Woodcock
2 Hore
3 Fia
4 Thorn
5 Bekhuis
6 Thomson
7 Hardie
8 Manu
9 Smith
10 Slade
11 Gear
12 Nonu
13 Ellison
14 Poki
15 Smith
16 Coltman
17 King
18 Wheeler
19 Hoeata
20 Tanaka
21 Sopoaga
22 Popoali'i
Crusaders
Hooker (2): Flynn, Funnell
Prop (3): Barrett, Crockett, Franks
Lock (3): Whitelock, Bird, Romano
Loose Forward (5): McCaw, Todd, Whitelock, Whitelock, Read
Halfback (2): Ellis, Heinz
First Five (3): Carter, Bleyendaal, Taylor
Centre (3): Fruean, Crotty, Whitelock
Outside Back (5): McNicholl, Guildford, Marshall, Dagg, Osbourne
Possible Other Players:
- Q MacDonald
- T Donnelly
- J Taufua
- J Tupou
- S Maitland
Possible Top 22:
1 Crockett
2 Flynn
3 Franks
4 Romano
5 Whitelock
6 Whitelock
7 McCaw
8 Read
9 Ellis
10 Carter
11 Guildford
12 Crotty
13 Fruean
14 McNicholl
15 Dagg
16 Funnell
17 Barrett
18 Bird
19 Todd
20 Heinz
21 Taylor
22 Whitelock
Both squads are very strong, with the Highlanders having arguably the best squad on paper in the competition. Their only real weakness may be a lack of quality depth in the front row and in the loose forwards. They have a couple of good first fives, some quality centres and a great back three. The Crusaders don't look to have changed much from last season, with a few strong Canterbury players looking to make the step up to Super level.
