All Black vice-captain Richie McCaw returned to representative rugby yesterday for the first time in nearly three months.
And to add to the intrigue about his appearance at Yarrows Stadium in New Plymouth, McCaw played at No 8 for Canterbury B.
It has been 13 weeks since McCaw was concussedat Carisbrook when he collided with team-mate Xavier Rush in the All Blacks' first-test win against England. All Black management then withdrew McCaw on the morning of the second test at Eden Park a week later.
McCaw played the following week against Argentina in Hamilton but it would be his last domestic international this season as he complained of subsequent headaches.
It was decided McCaw would miss the offshore Tri-Nations series and return at some time in the NPC.
While it was not the NPC yesterday, it was the next-best thing for McCaw, who played in the curtain-raiser in his side's 27-7 win against Taranaki's 2nd XV.
Auckland lock Ali Williams has been struggling with similar problems after being concussed against Northland. He has had to withdraw from Auckland's last two games.
