30 Apr 2009

McCaw out with concussion

1:55 pm on 30 April 2009

The All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been ruled out of the Crusaders' match against the Lions in Johannesburg this weekend because of concussion.

McCaw suffered the concussion in last week's Super 14 loss to the Cheetahs and he's been ruled out of Saturday morning's game, and replaced by Jonathan Poff.

Wing Kade Poki is out due to a haematoma behind a knee suffered in the same match. Hamish Gard comes onto the reserves bench as a replacement.

Lock Isaac Ross, halfback Andy Ellis and fullback Leon MacDonald all return to the starting line-up for the Crusaders, who are 8th on the table and needing wins to have any chance of making the play-offs.