Richie McCaw will play at blindside flanker © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Article: Concussed Kieran Read misses Brumbies

Article: Super Rugby line-ups, round 12

Article: Brumbies name unchanged XV for Crusaders

Features: Super Rugby preview, round 12

Article: Brumbies hail Crusaders' chieftain, Richie McCaw

Richie McCaw will start for the Crusaders against the Brumbies in Christchurch on Saturday, the All Blacks captain named to play blindside flanker having been absent since fracturing his left thumb against the Blues at Eden Park in round three.

McCaw was selected to wear the No.6 jumper because Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said Matt Todd deserved to keep the No.7 jersey after his starring performances in recent weeks.

"We were always going to start [McCaw]. That was always part of our plans," Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said.

Luke Whitelock, meanwhile, will start at No.8 in the absence of captain Kieran Read, who has been ruled out with concussion. Ryan Crotty will lead the side in Read's absence.

Blackadder might have opted to ease McCaw back into work from the bench had Read been available, but the veteran is "very confident" his thumb has mended.

"We're up against a very good Brumbies team that's been pretty sharp over the last few weeks," McCaw said. "We realise our performance has to be up another level. It was a good, gutsy win against the Chiefs last time but we still didn't play a full 80 minutes and we're not 100% happy."

McCaw said the Brumbies were a smart side, well organised and with a good set-piece.

"They're pretty good at building pressure and taking their chances and we saw that against the Chiefs last week. It's about who holds their nerve and if you make mistakes at the wrong end of the field they'll punish you."

McCaw sympathised with the plight of Read. "I've been through those [concussion] situations in the past. You can't rush anything and that's always been the way it is here."

Crusaders: Israel Dagg; Johnny McNicholl, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty (captain), Nemani Nadolo; Colin Slade, Andy Ellis; Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, Richie McCaw; Sam Whitelock, Dominic Bird; Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Corey Flynn, Tim Perry, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Jordan Taufua, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Nafi Tuitavake.