KEY POINTS:
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is preparing for a torrid backlash from the luckless Waratahs in their Super 14 rugby clash in Sydney on Saturday.
With just one win from seven games and stung by a 34-6 hiding from the Blues last week, Deans expects the Waratahs, playing at
home, will be fully motivated for a physical encounter.
"They're going to come out of the tunnel just fizzing," Deans said after a Crusaders training run in Christchurch today.
"They've suffered for a long period of time. They're back at home. They've got everything to play for and an Australian team under that circumstance is always a handful."
Deans has restored returning All Black captain Richie McCaw to the Crusaders captaincy for Saturday's game, acknowledging the good work hooker Corey Flynn had done in leading the squad through the first half of the season.
"Corey did a very good job for us in a challenging set of circumstances and he remains a very important part of the leadership group," he said.
"It is a testament to the leadership work of Corey and the senior players around him, that he hands over the captaincy responsibility with the side having performed particularly well in the last couple of weeks."
Deans has made only one change to the team that swamped the Stormers 36-11 at Jade Stadium last Saturday.
Kevin Senio comes in as halfback, pushing Andy Ellis onto the reserves bench.
All six returning All Blacks -- Leon MacDonald, Daniel Carter, Reuben Thorne, Aaron Mauger, Chris Jack, and McCaw -- all get their second start of the season after returning to duty against the Stormers.
Saturday's win propelled the Crusaders to third place on points differential, three adrift of the second-placed Sharks on 25 with the Blues leading proceedings on 28.
With three home fixtures in the later part of the season, the Crusaders are well placed to retain a semifinal spot.
Referring to the five forwards, two backs split he had retained on the bench for Sydney, Deans said it was only the second game for the All Black six.
"It's still pre-season for these guys and it's going to be an incredibly physical contest," Deans explained.
The Waratahs would be the most defensive lineup they'd faced. Add "another week of frustration," having lost to the Blues "and playing at home, they're going to be a real handful", he said.
"They will be physical, so that's where we'll be tested first and foremost."
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie today made no secret of the fact his team would be out to nullify McCaw's influence in the showdown at Aussie Stadium.
McKenzie was reported as saying the Waratahs would be keeping close tabs on the inspirational All Blacks skipper.
But McCaw told NZPA today being targeted by opposition teams was something he'd "got used to".
"I guess that's just the way it is," he said. "If you start worrying about it you're not going to do your job."
If opposition players concentrated on him, other Crusaders were given an opportunity to stamp their mark on the game.
Getting extra attention was "nothing out of the ordinary for me any more", he said.
"It's always physical and it's something you put up with."
McCaw said while regaining the captaincy was personally important to him, senior Crusaders players knew what needed to be done and needed little leadership.
"My job is just to make sure everyone (contributes) and to keep an eye on it.
"It's not a big deal with this team in terms of extra workload."
McCaw said he believed he and his five fellow All Blacks would be a lot better for being thrown straight back into the fray last week.
"We've got six games of the Super 14 left, so we want to make sure we get it right.
"We were lucky being given the chance to get straight back into it because certainly we were ready to play again, and having to watch makes it pretty tough."
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Casey Laulala, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Kevin Senio, Mose Tuiali'i, Richard McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Chris Jack, Ross Filipo, Campbell Johnstone, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Ben Franks, Michael Paterson, Kieran Read, Johnny Leo'o, Andrew Ellis, Stephen Brett.
- NZPA CHC cs mw ob