Crusaders

It shapes as one of the most intriguing encounters of the round - the defending champions against Australia's best and so far unbeaten side.

The ACT Brumbies will be out to continue their unbeaten start when they face the Crusaders in Christchurch.

They were particularly vulnerable in the forwards with two of their seven first-half penalties coming from scrums, with Slipper (rested) Swain (injured) and Allan Alaalatoa (bench) all missing from the pack. With seven Wallabies on the shelf through a combination of injuries and Wallabies-enforced rest, the Brumbies were rarely in the contest and never led in the 18-point loss. Two tries for gun winger Leicester Fainga'anuku snuffed any hopes the Brumbies had of pinching an upset win on their first trip to New Zealand for the season

Join us at 7pm, as the newly appointed All Blacks coach tries to steer his team home over the top Aussies.

The ACT Brumbies will risk their perfect start to the season when they send an understrength team to face champions Canterbury Crusaders in Super Rugby ...

This was the round we could rest some of our guys," coach Stephen Larkham told reporters. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story In the second match on Friday more pain could be in store for the New South Wales Waratahs, who are suffering their own injury crisis and are mired in a 1-3 hole.