McCaw benched again

[The InnFORCEr]

AAP
July 25, 2013,
7:20 am


All Blacks great Richie McCaw is on the reserve bench again as Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder stays true to his in-form starting side to face the Chiefs in their Super Rugby semi-final on Saturday.

The run-on XV who ploughed the way for last weekend's 38-9 thumping of the Queensland Reds in the elimination final at Christchurch has been retained for the Hamilton match.

It is the same starting side who were equally emphatic in beating the Chiefs 43-15 in their last meeting, a lop-sided round 19 fixture in Christchurch on July 5.

With no injuries reported, Blackadder has a wealth of experience to call on as his team chase a sixth successive win.

All eight forwards are All Blacks, along with four of the backs. Only midfield backs Ryan Crotty and Tom Taylor and wing Tom Marshall are yet to play a Test.

Veteran All Blacks skipper McCaw, who is expected to lead New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in just over three weeks, continues a moderated return to rugby after a six-month break.

He returned to rugby with an 80min club appearance two weeks ago and played the last 15min off the bench against the Reds after replacing in-form openside flanker Matt Todd.

If the seven-time champion Crusaders beat the defending Chiefs, they will play the final in either Pretoria or Canberra, depending on the result of the second semi-final between the Bulls and Brumbies.

The Chiefs will host the final for a second-straight year if successful.

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Luke Whitelock, Richie McCaw, Willi Heinz, Tyler Bleyendaal, Adam Whitelock

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...benched-again/

[zed]

Really exemplifies how hamstrung the Force are, how can we expect to get into the top 6 of the Super 15s when we are coming up against teams like the Saders with 13 All Blacks in the side.... amazing that we actually beat them.

[palitu]

i love that McCaw played 80mins of club rugby, how good would that be!

[The InnFORCEr]

i love that McCaw played 80mins of club rugby, how good would that be!

Good for all except the incumbent club No7 who's starting spot he took

[Alison]

Ditto for the Crusaders No. 7 who could be about to miss out on a S15 grand final gig!

[westies man]

No it shows that he place's a big emphasis on where it all started

[The InnFORCEr]

No it shows that he place's a big emphasis on where it all started

You are joking, had there been an injury in the Crusaders team they would have slotted him straight instead of playing club rugby. Pretty sure he didn't play for the love of club rugby or "where it started" he HAD to do it.

[PeterM]

In my view how great for the blokes at that local rugby club who got the chance to play alongside the greatest All Black of all time. The kids and others who would have gone along to watch the game and see McCaw play in the flesh to get so close up and see him in action would have been awesome. Not everyone can afford to go to Super Rugby or Test Matches. Finally the undoubted swell in crowd numbers and dollars pouring into that clubs coffers on the back of Richie playing would have been a massive benefit to the club.