McCaw return Saders’ trump card?
All Black captain Richie McCaw could feature for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby play-offs if he comes through his comeback game unscathed this weekend.
McCaw will make his return to the playing field for Christchurch against University on Saturday following a seven-month sabbatical.
The 32-year-old said “it is a possibility" that he could bolster the Crusaders but said he needed to clear the first hurdle on his comeback trail first.
"The first thing is to get through Saturday," McCaw said on Wednesday.
"Then it's about the needs of the Crusaders, so maybe if Saturday goes well you can put your hat in the ring for next week."
He said he has been working hard on regaining full fitness and believes he will be able to play the full 80 minutes this weekend.
McCaw, whose last appearance was for the All Blacks in their shock loss to England at Twickenham last December, added that the sabbatical has reinvigorated him.
"I'm excited about getting back into it and that's the way it should be," McCaw said.
"My biggest fear was that it would get to the point where I'd stop enjoying it and it was starting to get on top of me a bit."
McCaw also touched on former Crusaders mentor Robbie Deans’ resignation as Wallaby coach after the series loss to the British and Irish Lions.
"It's a pretty brutal industry if things don't go well. He was a great coach when we had him here and I'm sure whatever teams he goes on to coach will have success going forward, but it's just the nature of the beast," McCaw said.
