Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty will start for the Crusaders in Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final against the Sharks in Christchurch.

The All Blacks captain took a knock to his wrist against the Blues last week, while Crotty hurt a thumb.

However, both have been declared fit to face the Sharks, ensuring that 12 All Blacks will be in the Crusaders starting XV.

‘He [Read] recovered quite quickly, and after he got that x-ray there was massive relief in camp,’ said coach Scott Robertson. ‘And especially for him after the amount of injuries he has had in the last year or so. He has been training really well.’

Crusaders – 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tim Perry.
Subs: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele.

Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images