Fit-again McCaw ready for tough Sharks encounter
Crusaders flanker out to avenge his team’s regular-season home defeat to South Africans and help book 11th Super Rugby final
Canterbury Crusaders flanker Richie McCaw has recovered from injury and will start this weekend's Super Rugby semi-final against South Africa's Sharks in Christchurch.
The All Blacks captain missed the end of the regular season after breaking a rib playing against England in June and returns to reinforce the seven-time champions as they bid to reach an 11th final.
With Matt Todd in such fine form in McCaw's usual position of openside flanker, the 33-year-old will play on the other side of the scrum in the number six shirt with Jordan Taufua moving to the bench.
The Sharks have shown this season that they are an extremely classy outfit and a very difficult team to beat. This is our biggest challenge yet, but we feel ready for it
All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter also starts in an unfamiliar position, again lining up at inside centre outside Colin Slade as he continues his return from a six-month sabbatical.
McCaw's return is one of two changes to the team who beat the Otago Highlanders in the last outing of the regular season with the other coming in the front row where Corey Flynn gets the start at hooker in his 150th game for the Crusaders.
The Crusaders will be looking to avenge their 30-25 home defeat to the Sharks earlier in the season and coach Todd Blackadder is expecting a stiff challenge from Jake White's team.
"The Sharks have shown this season that they are an extremely classy outfit and a very difficult team to beat," he said in a media release. "This is our biggest challenge yet, but we feel ready for it."
Pat Lambie has been restored to fly-half and fellow international Willem Alberts has been shifted to lock as the Sharks made three changes to their starting line-up for the semi-final.
Frans Steyn moves to inside centre alongside Paul Jordaan while Springbok JP Pietersen, who was outside centre last weekend, is named on the wing in place of Sibusiso Sithole, who drops to the bench.
Alberts shifts to lock to replace the injured Anton Bresler, with Jean Deysel taking Alberts' place on the flank.
Lambie played only 12 minutes in their play-off win against the Highlanders last weekend in his comeback from injury, but earned praise from White for providing a steadying influence at a crucial point in the game.
"Fortunately I got some time on the field, and I was very excited to get back on the field again, a bit nervous even. But the way the team handled the pressure was commendable.
"We didn't make things easy for ourselves, but in saying that, it was a very good Highlanders team that we played against. They scored some great tries and I'm just very pleased that we're through to the next round."
"I'm just looking to add value as much as I can," said Lambie.
The New South Wales Waratahs face off against the ACT Brumbies in Saturday's second semi-final in Sydney.
