Rugby: McCaw at blindside for Crusaders

Richie McCaw. Photo / Greg Bowker

The jersey number might be different, but All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has the same hunger and passion of old for his first start this season for the Crusaders in their fourth round Super 14 rugby match against the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday night.

McCaw, who had been given an extended sabbatical after the All Blacks end-of-season tour last year, played the last 28 minutes in the Crusaders 35-6 over the Sharks last Friday, will wear the No 6 jersey, with the No 7 top being retained by another specialist openside flanker in George Whitelock.

McCaw said after the Crusaders final training today that the number on the jersey "did not mean a whole lot" and he was just itching to be in the starting line-up.

"It was nice last week to get a bit of rust out, but it's different when you are starting and I'm looking forward to it as I'm sick of doing all the training for no rewards."

With McCaw playing at six, stand-in captain Kieran Read - who had been in that role for the first three matches - will slot back to where the All Blacks have used him, at No 8. The only changes to the team which routed the Sharks at AMI Stadium are McCaw and prop Owen Franks, who replace the injured Thomas Waldrom (achilles tendon) and Ben Franks (ankle), respectively.

"Reado (Read) did extremely well playing tests at No 8 and he'll be fine there. I've got to make sure that I slot in and the three of us (loose forwards) work together and not try to do each other's role. We want to be effective across the park and not just in one area," McCaw said.

He also admitted former Crusader and now Blues first five-eighth, Stephen Brett, would be pressurised at every opportunity.

"We know a bit about him, like he knows a bit about us. You give him time and space and he's very good at what he does, so if we can put him under pressure and shut down quality ball getting to him then there will be opportunities to put their backline under pressure."

The intense rivalry between the two powerhouses - between them they have won 10 of the 14 Super titles - will add spice, but McCaw said it was just as important for the Crusaders to prove that the good win last week, coming after a `poor performance' and loss two weeks ago (to the Reds), was not just a one-off improvement.

"We've always had battles with the Blues - I remember back to last year when it was pretty tight (Crusaders won 15-13 in Auckland) - and those battles are the ones we enjoy playing in. Playing the Blues maybe adds a bit of spice but we want to make sure our stuff is right."

Crusaders
Jared Payne, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Zac Guildford, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read, George Whitelock, Richie McCaw (captain), Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald/Corey Flynn, Peter Borlase, Isaac Ross, Jonathon Poff, Kahn Fotuali'i, Adam Whitelock, Colin Slade.

Blues
Paul Williams, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Rudi Wulf, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Viliami Ma'afu, Serge Lilo, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Filo Paulo, Tom Chamberlain, Chris Smylie, Daniel Kirkpatrick, George Pisi.

- NZPA