All Blacks: McCaw ready for Bledisloe bash

Richie McCaw in action for club side Christchurch. Photo / Simon Baker

All Black captain Richie McCaw has given himself a warrant of fitness for next weekend's Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies.

McCaw played 52 minutes for Christchurch before being substituted, his first stint in club colours for eight years. His Christchurch team, unbeaten this season, beat Lincoln University 40-13 at the club's Westminster Rd grounds.

As preparation for the white-hot atmosphere of a test match, club rugby on a suburban ground falls some way short but beggars can't be choosers.

Also, the good folk of Canterbury came out in force with about 1500 ringing the field at Christchurch Park (the cynical would feel obliged to note it did not fall too far short of the crowd that watched the All Blacks beat Italy in the same city recently).

One spectator taking more interest than most was All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.

The forwards coach, who recently inked a new deal that will see him stay on in the role until after the 2011 World Cup, was reportedly impressed by what he saw.

"What he did he did well," Hansen told reporters. "He cleaned out well over the ball and his link play was good.

"He'll be happy with what he did today and we can go into next week with some confidence."

McCaw has not played and has hardly trained since injuring his knee in the Super 14 semifinal against the Bulls at Pretoria in May.

Last week he attended three trainings for Christchurch and then there was the match itself.

"I really enjoyed it. The knee was OK but the lungs were feeling it," McCaw said.

"It was good to have a hit-out before next weekend. I was a bit rusty. The first time I got the ball I think I lost it which was a wake-up call.

"A bit of contact, I got the ball in hand a wee bit, made a few tackles. That was what I was after.

"It was nice to have a hit-out going into next weekend and good to have a run with the boys.

"The standard of rugby was really good and it will help with my confidence before next weekend. I probably lacked a little bit of zip."

Asked whether he had done enough to get through next weekend's match, he said: "I'm sure I'll be ok. I know what it takes to get through 80 minutes."

McCaw was not the only All Black captain having a run for his club side.

Fifty-five test veteran Rodney So'oialo turned out for Wests in the Wellington club competition. He played 80 minutes as the Roosters, for whom he has not played since 2003, downed Poneke's 2nd XV 17-3.

So'oialo has been suffering from a neck condition and, like McCaw, has not played since the Super 14 semifinals.

North of the Auckland Harbour Bridge the news was not encouraging, with Luke McAlister unavailable for Silverdale due to his gimpy back.

With Stephen Donald struggling to recover from a hamstring strain, that increases the likelihood halfback Piri Weepu will be pressed into service in No 10, or a debut will be handed to Stephen Brett.