All Blacks: Captain fantastic a 50/50 shot

Richie McCaw in action during training yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell

All Blacks coach Graham Henry says injured captain Richie McCaw has a "50/50 chance" of starting in the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

"We'll see how he progresses during the week," Henry said as the team was named yesterday afternoon.

"Richie's just desperate to play for the All Blacks." McCaw and Daniel Braid have been bracketed on the openside flank. Henry was putting no deadline on deciding whether McCaw or Braid would start and said the decision was largely in the injured captain's court. "If he thinks he's competitive, then he'll play."

McCaw trained well yesterday but Henry must decide whether to risk the 62-test veteran two weeks ahead of his scheduled recovery date.