Former Crusaders team mates Sam Whitlelock and Willi Heinz to battle it out in All Blacks vs England semifinal

All Blacks lock, Sam Whitlelock will face off with one of his former Crusaders team-mates Willi Heinz when the All Blacks take on England in the semifinal of the Rugby World Cup this Saturday.

Whitelock will be playing his 117th test match for the All Blacks if he gets the pick for this Saturday, while Crusaders team-mate Heinz is expected to be a back up for England halfback, Ben Youngs.

Stuff.co.nz reports this Saturday will be the first meeting of the two since Heinz left the Crusaders in 2015 to join Gloucester Club.

Despite spending majority of his career in New Zealand, Heinz, qualifies for his adopted country through his English-born grandmother and since joining the Gloucester club in 2015, Heinz has been ranked as one of the most consistent No 9s in England.

All Blacks will face England in the first semi-final at 8pm this Saturday while South Africa will play Wales at 9pm on Sunday.

Stuff.co.nz

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