McCaw returns

McCaw returns

24 Feb 2010

Keo.co.za brings you the latest news from New Zealand.

McCaw returns

Richie McCaw makes his first appearance this season on the bench for the Crusaders’ clash against the Sharks on Friday.

McCaw was set to return against the Blues next week, but head coach Todd Blackadder sent a SOS to the All Blacks skipper after their shock defeat against the Reds last Friday.

Blackadder has also rushed lock Brad Thorn and prop Wyatt Crockett back into action, after previously saying he would ease the All Blacks duo back into the starting line-up as Thorn had a hectic season last year and Crockett suffered an ankle injury during the pre-season.

Thorn and Crockett replace injured lock Isaac Ross and prop Owen Franks respectively.

Jared Payne also moves from right wing to fullback, which sees Colin Slade demoted to the bench. Sean Maitland will start in the No 11 jersey.

Ryan Crotty comes in for the injured Tim Bateman.

Crusaders - 15 Jared Payne, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Kieran Read (c), 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Subs: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Joe Wheeler, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Colin Slade.

This thread will be updated throughout the course of the day…


75 Comments

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  • 51.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:37 am

    BLACK PANTHER,

    Will you change your opinion on this after we put 50 points past the Tahs?

    I am not trying to be controversial on this. I really think the Bulls will go through this season unbeaten.

    If they don’t, I will be the first person to say WTF I was wrong…. BUT, until the Bulls lose their first game you are going to have to read this…

  • 52.WP_: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:38 am

    @Blouboerseun: Ya he’s just a thick kiwi, he wouldnt know intelligence if it moered him in the bek

  • 53.WP_: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:39 am

    @Blouboerseun: Dont think so… Some tough games lie ahead… Away from Loftus

  • 54.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:42 am

    Here at the Bulls we like beating record and reaching goals set out. One of the team’s goals is to go through the season unbeaten.

    These kinds of goals are set up for them to keep being motivated. It is when you stand there and ask yourself, we just won the Super 14 for the second time. What is next that we would like to achieve?

    I am telling you guys if they don’t go through the season unbeaten I will see it as a mini disappointment.

    One thing I know is that the Bulls want to go through a season unbeaten.

  • 55.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:44 am

    @Blouboerseun: true, from 2002 -2007 didnt you guys finish last 4 or 5 times?? thats a record alright…

    and your guys couldnt handle the highlanders last year, teams are pretty much the same… cant see the bulls winning unbeaten, dont forget the kissing cousins wont allow it :twisted:

  • 56.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:47 am

    POPPA

    We were sh&t in those days…. Even in 2008. But right now we are a milion years away from those days..

    The Crusaders went through a season unbeaten, why cant we? That is what I think.

  • 57.Black Panther: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:47 am

    @Blouboerseun:

    Forgive me but what has ‘putting 50 past the Tahs’ got to do with ‘the Bulls will have an unbeaten season’ ?

    and this is your argument for ‘not trying to be controversial’ ???

    I dont think I’ll have to wait toooooooo long before your idiocy stares you back in the mirror. Bulls need to leave SA shores at some stage and my humble guess is that the Cheifs will knock some smug smiles off a few faces in the Tron.

    But youre right about 1 thing – the Bulls have a ridiculously easy game schedule, not leaving SA until Round 7/8 (?). Thats playing with loaded dice.

  • 58.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:51 am

    @Blouboerseun: true, you guys have started the season so well, but two games is really no true indication… both games youve played were at altitude, a distinct advantage over the australasian sides (I know one game was the Cheetahs)… lets face it, the brumbies, had they been at sea level, may very well have beaten you…

    I take it your one SA who doesnt ascribe to the “travel disadvantage”? because you would probably be the first one Ive ever spoken to on here, so I feel quite special knowing there is at least one…

  • 59.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 09:55 am

    BLACK,

    What is your prediction for the Tahs game….

    Bulls 52 – 21 Tahs….. (We are still working on our defense. By week 7 it will be sorted.)

    The schedule is perfect for us this season. That is why I am feeling really optimistic about it.

    We will have to wait and see.

    I recon the Chiefs are the strongest team in NZ at the moment

  • 60.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:02 am

    POPPA,

    There is no more excuses available for any one any more.

    Traveling: You know you have to do it so get over it. Make it a special tour for the players do what ever.

    Altitude: It is your own decision to leave for SA when you want as a team. Personally I don’t believe leaving late helps. Aus and NZ people are the only people that complain about this. Must we now start complaining about the wet conditions?

    I just recon as a professional you have to adapt and survive…

  • 61.WP_: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:03 am

    Dont expect anything in the form of intellectual capacity form BlackPanties

  • 62.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:08 am

    On the McCaw tread:

    I recon he is under the top 3 players in the world.

    McCaw (NZ)
    Fourie du P (RSA)
    O’Driscoll (Ire)

  • 63.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:16 am

    @Blouboerseun: you must be new to this site then :lol: travel is a SA excuse we’ve heard for quite a while now..

    altitude- training a full pre-season and playing half your games does lend itself to being better suited to those conditions…

    I think it is the reason you beat the brumbies, who visibly tired in the final quarter… Aus/NZ players only ever encounter it when playing in SA…

    its much like Dunedin, where the cold is something SA teams are not used to playing in, hence it took so long for the Boks to win there..

  • 64.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:29 am

    POPPA,

    We spend a lot of our pre season training in George, a little costal town in SA.

    I firmly believe that all of this is due to mental attitude.

    Example:

    NZ never play well in World Cups. Why? They don’t know how to? Mentally they believe they cant play well.

    If you believe you can do some thing you are already halfway there. But if there is doubt in your mind, don’t even attempt to do it.

  • 65.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:40 am

    @Blouboerseun: perhaps… one could cast all sorts of aspersions, the fact the ABs are beaten in a one off game is not solely down to mental attitude… bounce of the ball, wrong game plan, there are any number of reasons..

    I mean, dont SA have the same sort of problems facing the French? been a while since you guys have toppled them, is that attitude too?

    is that the reason SA took 10 years to win in NZ?

    I agree you are beaten before you begin if you dont have self belief, but its not the sole reason..

  • 66.Blouboerseun: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 10:46 am

    G2G

  • 67.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 12:18 pm

    @Black Panther:

    The same Chiefs that let the Lions score 65 points against them?

    Good to see McCaw is back, maybe he can do something worth while this year. HAH!

  • 68.cane: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 12:19 pm

    @Blouboerseun: post 60.

    Stick around Bluoy.

    I like it.

    8)

  • 69.Black Panther: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 14:12 pm

    @Kobus Kitty:

    still banging the same ole tune out there I see, KKK

    I seem to remember McCaw carrying off MoM awards in the season-ending France Test, dont you ? He was also MoM vs Aus on the same tour. He was integral to 50% of the AB tries. He started the year on 1 leg and finished it on 2.

    but you carry on with your wee Brussow mask on, atleast its an improvement.

  • 70.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 16:03 pm

    The last few post is the closest resemblance i’ve seen to a civil debate on this site

  • 71.Black Panther: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2010, 16:31 pm

    Partizan

    an old Pink Floyd album springs to mind

    ‘a momentary lapse of reason’

  • 72.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2010, 01:53 am

    @Black Panther:

    I don’t go by MoM awards, I go by what I see. McCaw did absolutely nothing last year. He is like the Ruan Pienaar of forwards.

  • 73.whatever: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2010, 02:45 am

    Yaawwwnnn…………same old same old BS sprouting from the one eyed chip on the shoulder doos………….yaawwnn !

  • 74.whatever: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2010, 02:58 am

    @poppa69:

    @58 One excuse is the same as the next Poppa. I’ve said it before! Are you saying now that your altitude excuse is BIGGER than our travel excuse FFS?? Geez, thats starting to split hairs don’t you think?

  • 75.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2010, 07:05 am

    @whatever: not at all Whatever, but even you cant deny it is an advantage to SA teams, much like travelling east is a disadvantage to them…( isnt the fact east to west rather then west to east, “splitting hairs” )

    yet Ive never heard anyone discuss the advantage, or you dont think being conditioned to the rarefied air assists your teams?

    thought it was a valid argument myself..

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