No McCaw for Crusaders

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw will miss the Crusaders' push for the Super Rugby play-offs after breaking a rib in the Test series against England.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said McCaw would be sidelined for three weeks after X-rays confirmed the player's rib problem, initially thought to be heavy bruising, was a fracture.

"Unfortunately he's got a broken rib which he did possibly in the second Test, or early in the first one," Hansen told Radio Sport.

"It was a courageous effort for him to be out there and doing what he does."

The injury means McCaw will miss the last three games of the Super Rugby regular season, a major blow for the Crusaders who face tough run of New Zealand derbies against the Hurricanes, Blues and Highlanders.

While the seven-time champions lead the New Zealand conference and are third in the overall standings, this year's Super Rugby competition is exceptionally tight and they cannot afford to slip up if they want to guarantee finishing in the top six to secure a finals berth.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, who also has All Black Israel Dagg on the sick list and doubts over world player of the year Kieran Read, said he had the players to cover any injuries.

"We never use player availability as an excuse to give less than 100 percent," he told reporters.

"We take pride in the depth that we have in this squad and we have confidence in our available players to do the task."

AFP