Richie McCaw back in action

WELLINGTON – All Blacks captain Richie McCaw returns to rugby’s Super 14 on Friday as the seven-time champion Canterbury Crusaders attempt to recover from a second-round loss to Queensland.

McCaw was given dispensation by the New Zealand Rugby Union to miss the tournament’s first two rounds while on extended leave, but will start from the bench in the Crusaders’ match at Christchurch against South Africa’s Sharks.’I started to watch the last few weeks and wish I was out there and that’s the way it should be every time. That’s a good sign,’ McCaw said.McCaw returns to a Canterbury team which is significantly changed from the one which lost 40-21 to Queensland in Brisbane. Prop Wyatt Crockett and lock Brad Thorn will both start for the first time this season but their All Blacks teammate, lock Isaac Ross, has been ruled out of the match with an ankle injury.All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter described Canterbury’s performance against Queensland, in which his Reds opposite Quade Cooper scored 31 points, as its worst since his debut in 2003.The Sharks also suffered an upset loss in the second round, going down 25-20 to compatriots the Cheetahs, and have made changes for Friday’s match. Springboks lock Johan Muller returns from injury while captain John Smit will start at tighthead prop and Bismarck du Plessis at hooker.Former England flyhalf Andy Goode, who has been loaned to the Sharks by his French club Brive, will start from the bench. Defending champions and competition leaders the Bulls have made two changes for Saturday’s match against the New South Wales Waratahs at Pretoria.Flanker Derick Kunn, who came off the bench in last week’s 50-32 win over the ACT Brumbies, will make his first Super 14 start in three years while Danie Rossouw takes the place of Pierre Spies who has a knee injury.The Waratahs have dropped Kurtley Beale to the bench for the match and will start Daniel Halangahu at flyhalf while Berrick Barnes will move to the centres. Wallabies lock Dave Dennis will make his first Super 14 start while loose forward Locky McCaffrey may debut off the bench.The unbeaten Waikato Chiefs, 72-65 winners over the Lions last week in the highest-scoring match in Super rugby history, face injury problems ahead of Saturday’s match against the Western Force.All Blacks winger Lelia Masaga and lock Toby Lynn have been flown to Perth as cover for injured wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and locks Kevin O’Neill and Craig Clarke.The Force, after losses to the ACT Brumbies and Wellington Hurricanes in its first two matches, has called in Japan-based former Chiefs flyhalf David Hill. Hill could make his debut as early as Saturday, against his former teammates. The Lions, who scored nine tries and took a bonus point from last week’s remarkable match against the Chiefs, do not expect a high-scoring repeat when they play the Hurricanes on Saturday. Wellington scored seven tries in its 47-22 second-round win over the Force.In other third-round matches, the Stormers host the Brumbies, Queensland meets the Auckland Blues at Brisbane and the Cheetahs face the Otago Highlanders. – Nampa-AP

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