All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw will lead the Canterbury Crusaders in their Super 12 rugby semifinal against the Wellington Hurricanes at Christchurch on Friday.
McCaw signalled his recovery from a serious head injury, sustained five weeks ago, when he came off the bench to play briefly in the Crusaders’ last regular season match — also against the Hurricanes — last week.
He was confirmed in the Crusaders’ starting line-up on Wednesday, taking the place of Johnny Leo’o, who scored two tries in the win over the Hurricanes.
All Blacks centre Casey Laulala has missed selection for the match because of a hamstring strain. Caleb Ralph will play at centre, inside winger Rico Gear, whose two tries against the Hurricanes last week helped him equal Australian Joe Roff’s record of 14 tries in a Super 12 season.
Goal-kicking flyhalf Daniel Carter returns to the starting line-up, displacing All Blacks veteran Andrew Mehrtens, who drops to the reserve bench.
The Crusaders have named an all-All Blacks front row, with Dave Hewett returning at loosehead and Greg Somerville moving to tighthead, flanking hooker Corey Flynn.
The Hurricanes on Wednesday omitted Conrad Smith from their starting line-up, as the All Blacks failed to overcome a head injury he sustained in a clash of heads last week with Ralph.
Tane Tuipulotu will take Smith’s place, playing outside All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, who returns to the starting line-up.
Chris Masoe replaces Ben Herring on the open-side flank and All Blacks loose forward Jerry Collins returns on the blindside.
Neemia Tialata will hold up the tighthead side of the scrum, Tony Penn will play loosehead and veteran Gordon Slater was included on the bench in the absence of Tim Fairbrother, who has a shoulder injury.
Slater, a former Hurricanes captain, played his last Super 12 match in 2002. — Sapa-AP
Line-ups:
Canterbury: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Caleb Ralph, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Justine Marshall, Mose Tuali’i, Richie McCaw, Reuben Thorne, Ross Filipo, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Dave Hewett.
Reserves: Tone Kopelani, Campbell Johnstone, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo’o, Jamie Nutbrown, Andrew Mehrtens, Vilimoni Delasau.
Wellington: Shannon Paku, Lome Fa’atau, Tane Tuipulotu, Tana Umaga, Ma’a Nonu, Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu, Rodney So’oialo, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Luke Andrews, Ross Kennedy, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Penn.
Reserves: Joe Ward, Gordon Slater, Paul Tito, Ben Herring, Isaac Boss, Hosea Gear, Brent Ward.