Israel Dagg, pictured taking a high ball during training on Thursday, has been named to start at fullback for the Crusaders' match against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night.



Scott Robertson just wants his mob to make life miserable for the tourists on the field.

Bucketloads of the the smelly stuff might have been tipped over the British and Irish Lions following their 22-16 loss to the Blues on Wednesday night, but Crusaders coach Robertson was never going to create a spectacle by giving them a verbal kicking.

Well, that is no surprise is it?

GETTY IMAGES Captain Sam Whitelock and coach Scott Robertson discuss how the Crusaders will take the on the British and Irish Lions during training on Thursday.

Robertson, 42, might be Warren Gatland's junior by 11 years but he's still loaded with street smarts.

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Some fair questions were put to Robertson when he named a Crusaders side containing eight All Blacks to start against the Lions at AMI Stadium on Saturday evening, but he ducked any chance to unleash some shots and admitted at one point he was wary of offering an answer that would create a hot headline.

So, this is what we know.

The Crusaders, having just set a new Super Rugby record by winning 14 games straight, have named a near full-strength side. Missing are injured All Blacks Kieran Read, Scott Barrett and Ryan Crotty.

Then came the questions.

GETTY IMAGES Sam Whitelock will captain the Crusaders against the British and Irish Lions in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Did Robertson think there was a chance the Lions, who bumbled through a win over the NZ Barbarians and then got burnt by the worst Super Rugby team in the country, might lose the remaining games on tour?

"They are better than what they played last night," Robertson stated. "It is a brutal tour, you know."

Varying the game plan has worked wonders for the Crusaders this year. Their counter-attack has blossomed, and a willingness to try cross-kicks, utilise midfield runners or fire contestable bombs has also given opponents' nightmares.

GEORGE HEARD/Stuff.co.nz Crusaders training ahead of Lions match.

The rib injury to Crotty means David Havili shifts to the midfield, allowing Israel Dagg to start at fullback. Havili has been a tearaway from the back this season, his willingness to run and offload creating carnage, and he will be forced to be more direct in the No 12 jersey.

Yet Havili and his mates will have noted that the Blues' offloading game was outstanding, they made 14 to the Lions' four, and it was Steven Luatua's fine pass that set-up the crucial try for Ihaia West.

If the conditions are decent, Robertson is promising his side won't freeze and narrow their attack. We could see more of the dynamite running game they have tapped into this year.

"We will be smart about it. We also understand that with the potential test-match focus of it, we have to adapt. That is what the Blues did, at times.

"If we have to go to set-piece, we will. If we have to throw the ball as well, we will. But their (the Lions) line speed created a lot of pressure."

Robertson doesn't expect the Lions to suddenly change tactics. If they stick to the way they played at Eden Park, wings George Bridge and Seta Tamanivalu can expect plenty of box kicks to fall their way.

Gatland is starting to cop it from every direction and to get this tour humming, the Lions badly need a positive result. Robertson noted the Crusaders have been able to test themselves against sides that are direct, like the South Africans, or those that go wide like the Australasians.

He also confessed to being in the strange situation of cheering on the Blues during their victory.

"But that was one of those nights where you thought 'yeah, come on boys'," Robertson cackled. "They have had a tough season, probably lost the majority of those tight ones.

"Tana is a good man and a good mate. I am really pleased for him to get that result."

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody.

Reserves: Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Alaalatoa, Quinten Strange, Jed Brown, Bryn Hall, Mitchell Hunt, Tim Bateman.