New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw has called for caution regarding a 'red fern' © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Richie McCaw

Teams: Crusaders | New Zealand

New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw has called for caution following suggestions that the iconic silver fern on the All Blacks' jersey be changed to red for this year's Rugby World Cup, in tribute to earthquake-stricken Christchurch.

The openside, in London for the Crusaders' fund-raising clash with the Sharks on Sunday, believes that it is dangerous to meddle with such a traditional part of the team's identity.

His Crusaders team-mates, Dan Carter and Keiran Read, echoed his sentiments while the franchise's coach, former All Black Todd Blackadder, suggested that a red and black armband may be more appropriate.

"I don't think that's a goer at all, to be honest," McCaw said. "The silver fern is something that has got a lot of history. I wouldn't say no if it was one game, there's the possibility of playing a game before the Tri-Nations, and doing something.

"Canterbury people don't expect things like that, they realise everyone is thinking of them and there's other small ways of showing that they are in our thoughts. You've got to be careful mixing up tradition too much. Winning the tournament is enough of a tribute to them, I'd suggest."

Christchurch has been stripped of its hosting rights for seven World Cup matches due to quake damage at AMI Stadium, as well as the surrounding infrastructure, and McCaw admitted that the decision was the only possible option for the tournament's organisers.

"As much as I would have loved to see the World Cup here in Christchurch, the reality is that through a number of reasons it just wasn't possible," he said. "I think deep down, even though people would have loved to have had it here, they understand the reality. Things aren't flash in the middle of town, there's a heap of buildings that are going to come down and it just wouldn't have been the right thing to do.

"The decision is made and we've just got to accept that, just get on with it I suppose. We're going to try and host a good tournament as a country."