Starting Richie McCaw at blindside flanker may be the only Crusaders team change for their Super Rugby semifinal with the Sharks on Saturday night.

Starting Richie McCaw at blindside flanker may be the only Crusaders team change for their Super Rugby semifinal with the Sharks on Saturday night.

Although Todd Blackadder stopped short of confirming McCaw’s fractured rib had healed, he’s hopeful the All Blacks captain will be declared fit to play at AMI Stadium.

McCaw, who hasn’t played since suffering the injury during last month’s test series against England, has often proved he has a high pain threshold but that didn’t give him licence to participate fully in Crusaders practices last week.

”He didn’t do too much in last week’s trainings but that’s just because he is getting himself cleared,” Blackadder said. ”I can’t tell you he is 100 per cent right but I am pretty sure he is at least 90.”

Sharks coach Jake White will warn his players they can expect McCaw to be in the starting line-up.

While Blackadder may be cautious about revealing too much about McCaw the fact is he was close to starting against the Highlanders a fortnight ago and his coach will be desperate to have him available for this sudden-death fixture.

A decision on his rib is expected to be made tomorrow, and if passed fit Blackadder said it would not be at the expense of incumbent openside flanker Matt Todd.

”Just talking to Richie, he said he’s not so hung-up on the No th7 jersey. He just wants to make a contribution, no matter where he’s selected. I would be reluctant to switch Matt Todd out and Richie, if he had to, would play six.”

That would result in Jordan Taufua, who has played most of his career at No th8 before switching to blindside flanker this year, moving back to the bench in place of Luke Whitelock.

Finishing second guaranteed the Crusaders an extra week to prepare for the semi, allowing Blackadder to give players such as Sam Whitelock, Nemani Nadolo and Ryan Crotty time to recover after carrying a heavy workload. All would be available for the semi.

Blackadder said the Crusaders’ contact training went “live” for a bit longer than usual on Friday but believed it would serve them well.

“If anything it just knocks the rust off.”

– The Press