Richie McCaw looks set to play his first Super rugby match of the season after being named in the Crusaders squad for Friday's clash with the Chiefs, but Dan Carter has been ruled out through injury.
All Blacks skipper McCaw, widely regarded as the world's best openside flanker, had surgery on a broken foot on the eve of the season and missed the first eight weeks but will return on the bench for Friday's match in Mt Maunganui.
Fly half Carter was recalled to the starting line-up after missing the 27-0 mauling of the champion Bulls last weekend because of a hamstring problem, but was ruled out again after it tightened on him again in training on Wednesday.
Carter, the all-time leading scorer in Super rugby, will be replaced by Matt Berquist, who stood in for him and led the backline against the Bulls last weekend.
Berquist will have a new halves partner after Kahn Fotuali'i was named at scrum half in place of Andy Ellis.
With McCaw on the bench, number eight Kieran Read will start as captain as he has throughout the seven-times champions' impressive start to the season.
All Blacks full-back Mils Muliaina also returns to Super Rugby action after being named for the Chiefs.
Muliaina missed the last four matches with fractures in his back and has not played since the Chiefs' home win against the Rebels at Waikato Stadium on March 5.
Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu will play his 83rd match for the Chiefs, becoming the franchise's most-capped player ahead of former prop Michael Collins.
-Reuters/AAP
First posted April 13, 2011 08:50:00
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