Rugby: Plans change after McCaw goes lame

Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder was not tempted to recall regular captain Kieran Read despite the late loss of fellow loose forward Richie McCaw for the Super 15 southern derby against the Highlanders tonight.

The Crusaders will head to Nelson with McCaw again on the sidelines after he made a cameo comeback against the Chiefs last weekend.

He spent 29 minutes on the field to end a 3-month break from the game because of a broken foot.

The All Blacks captain and flanker was due to get more game time tonight but those plans were thrown out when he hurt the same foot at training this week.

A screw was inserted in McCaw's right foot after he suffered a pre-season stress fracture and while there is no bone damage it is bruised.

Blackadder said McCaw would likely have played if asked, but it was decided to take no risks and Tasman No 8 Joe Wheeler has been brought into the mix for his first game for the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction, with halfback Andy Ellis taking over the captaincy from Read.

"We were always banking on Kieran not being involved and with Richie coming back we thought he would take over," he said.

"Obviously Richie has pulled out at the last minute so we decided to stick to the plan and leave Reado out.

"It's time for these guys to front. I've been really pleased with Matt Todd and George Whitelock and it's a chance for Joe to come in and show us what he has got.

"Jonathan Poff [loose forward reserve] has always been a great performer for us over the years so we trust him."

Blackadder has rung the personnel changes, with six players from the starting 15 against the Chiefs last Saturday either out of the squad or in the reserves.

The competition's leading tryscorer Sean Maitland, All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams and halfback Kahn Fotuali'i have all dropped to the reserves and in the forwards, Read is not in the 22-man squad and hooker Corey Flynn and prop Ben Franks are on the bench.

Blackadder denied he was experimenting with his selections.

"We're not taking this game lightly. While it may look like it's experimental it's time some of the guys be given an opportunity.

"I certainly don't want to be burning players out as it is a long campaign."

Blackadder said he was impressed with the expansive game employed by the Highlanders when they over ran the Melbourne Rebels last week, and believed coach Jamie Joseph was trying to get the mixture right with the backs supporting the combative pack.

"I think they would have seen when the Chiefs went width-to-width against us they got some gain and I expect they [Highlanders] to do much the same.

"I thought after their game last week they'd overcome a psychological hurdle and were starting to believe in themselves.

"We've got to have good line speed and connect together.

"We will have to apply ourselves, know where their threats are and make sure we shut them down."

The Crusaders comfortably beat the Highlanders 44-13 when they met in the fifth round on March 19.

- NZPA