McCaw sidelined for five weeks

WELLINGTON – All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been sidelined for at least five weeks from the Super 14 competition with a knee injury.

The skipper of the Canterbury Crusaders limped from the field during his side’s 6-0 loss to the Otago Highlanders on Saturday, the third straight defeat for the defending champions.
A medical examination yesterday revealed a medial ligament strain but Crusaders’ coach Todd Blackadder is hopeful his star flanker will return for a three-game trip to South Africa, starting with a clash against the Coastal Sharks on April 18.
‘It’s never a good time to lose one of the best players in world rugby but it’s a good opportunity for George Whitelock to step up,’ Blackadder said of his reserve openside flanker.
Former All Black hooker Corey Flynn will be out of rugby for about six months after breaking his left arm in the Crusaders’ defeat by the ACT Brumbies last month.
Wasps outside-half Danny Cipriani still hasn’t given up hope of featuring for England in this season’s Six Nations after helping his club to a 21-16 Premiership victory over London Irish on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Cipriani, who kicked 11 points against the Exiles, has found himself out of favour in the Six Nations with England manager Martin Johnson opting for either Andy Goode or Toby Flood at fly-half.
Cipriani is running out of time if he wants to feature in the 2009 edition as England, who are a lowly fourth in the table, have just two games left starting with their March 15 clash against France at Twickenham.
– Nampa-AFP