A welcome return for fans: Richie McCaw

The Crusaders head to Sydney this weekend to take on the Waratahs on Sunday (KO: 06:10 GMT) in round ten of the Super Rugby competition.

Head Coach Todd Blackadder has named his team and has made three changes to the starting fifteen that beat the Hurricanes last weekend.  He has also put two new faces on the bench.

Luke Romano will partner up with Tom Donnelly at lock, and Sam Whitelock moves to the reserves.

Ben Franks moves from tighthead to loosehead prop this week and Owen Franks will start at tighthead.  Wyatt Crockett will be ready to provide support from the bench.  Hooker Ben Funnell may get his first run for the Crusaders this season if he comes off the bench for starting hooker Corey Flynn.

The other new face on the reserve bench this week is actually one of rugby’s best known faces – Rugby World Cup winning captain Richie McCaw joins the team for the first time this season, having recovered from the surgery he received on his right foot last year.

Starting XV:
1.               Ben Franks
2.               Corey Flynn
3.               Owen Franks
4.               Tom Donnelly
5.               Luke Romano
6.               George Whitelock
7.               Matt Todd
8.               Kieran Read
9.               Andy Ellis
10.            Tom Taylor
11.            Zac Guildford
12.            Dan Carter
13.            Robbie Fruean
14.            Adam Whitelock
15.            Israel Dagg

Replacements:
16.        Ben Funnell
17.        Wyatt Crockett
18.        Samuel Whitelock
19.        Richie McCaw
20.        Willi Heinz
21.        Ryan Crotty
22.        Tom Marshall