Click photo to enlarge
Crusaders Richie McCaw at the season launch for the 15th
year of Super Rugby, Auckland, New Zealand. Credit: NZPA /
David Rowland.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is expected to return to
Super 14 rugby duty for the Crusaders four rounds into the
competition, his assistant coach Daryl Gibson says.
McCaw would miss the first three games of the Super 14, which
kicks off this weekend, Gibson told Radio Live.
"Richie's obviously taking a sabbatical in that period -
normally when All Blacks take sabbaticals it can be up to six
months, so we're fortunate Richie's decided that he's only
taking three weeks off.
"It's pretty good and a mark of the man, really."
A round four return would see McCaw step out against the
Blues in Christchurch on March 6.
Local bookmakers have installed the Crusaders as competition
favourites, the return of star first five-eighth Daniel
Carter seen as key.
Carter was on his ill-fated French sabbatical last year when
the seven-time champions somehow scraped into fourth place
while struggling all campaign on attack.
