McCaw has to earn back captaincy after break

Richie McCaw isn’t used to being treated like this.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder hasn’t just refused to award the great openside flanker the No 7 jersey, he has also overlooked him for the captaincy in the absence of the concussed Kieran Read.

This is the sort of stuff that makes conspiracy theorists bounce with joy.

If McCaw, who finally returns after two months rehabilitating his fractured thumb, was in any other Super Rugby team he could possibly demand to be picked in his position of choice – and order caviar for after the match.

When the 33-year-old returned to the All Blacks following last year’s sabbatical, coach Steve Hansen immediately awarded him the captaincy and No 7 jersey for the test against the Wallabies in Sydney, despite the fact McCaw had played only a handful of minutes for his Christchurch club and the Crusaders.

McCaw’s pedigree – he is a 124-test veteran after all – is difficult to ignore.

What is Blackadder thinking?

The Brumbies, who are at the head of the Aussie conference, may be asking themselves the same question ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s match at AMI Stadium.

For starters, Blackadder has always maintained that Matt Todd’s sizzling form meant he deserved to retain his position.

But maybe he is also using McCaw’s return as a way of sending some subtle messages to his internationals.

Refusing to give McCaw the five-star treatment, retaining Todd at openside and awarding Ryan Crotty the captaincy illustrates his ethos that on his watch his men are Crusaders first and All Blacks second.

McCaw stated he was content to bow to incumbent Todd and allow Crotty to be skipper, maintaining he was just relieved to be back after playing only around 120 minutes since the All Blacks beat Ireland in Dublin on November 24.

“I have always said they [the flanker positions] are pretty interchangeable these days. I am just happy to be out there,” McCaw said.

He last started at blindside flanker for the Crusaders on March 6 2010, allowing George Whitelock to start at openside.

There is no likelihood of the Crusaders employing a left-right strategy against the Brumbies.

“Matt and I have played enough over the years to understand that the worst thing you can do is get in each other’s way,” McCaw added. “The three of us [including No 8 Luke Whitelock] complementing each other, that is the key.”

When Read was unavailable for the Crusaders’ first game of the season, against the Chiefs, McCaw led the side.

He said the black strapping on his left hand was a soft cast. He returned to contact training last week.

Crotty, who also led the side against the Lions in Johannesburg last month, was told by Read of his promotion to the captaincy earlier this week.

“The nature of our team is we have a very experienced leadership group,” Crotty said. “I will just try to lead by example more than anything. If something needs to be said or messages need to be driven, usually one of the guys hits the nail on the head.”

He could afford to cackle when asked how he would deal with McCaw if he made an error.

“If that is ever to happen, which is highly unlikely, he would know to rectify it pretty quick.”

The Brumbies have named an unchanged starting side from the one that thumped the Chiefs 41-23 last weekend.

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Johnny McNicholl, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty (c), Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, Richie McCaw, Sam Whitelock, Dominic Bird, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Tim Perry, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Jordan Taufua, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Nafi Tuitavake.

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Robbie Coleman, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (c), Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, Ruan Smith, Ruaidhri Murphy, Jack Whetton, Tom McVerry, Michael Dowsett, Andrew Smith, Pat McCabe.

– © Fairfax NZ News