Rugby: Understudies please step up

Richie McCaw has been pulled out of his side's Super 14 clash against the Lions. Photo / Getty Images.

It was not the news bulletin New Zealand rugby followers needed to wake up to. And it will have the All Black selectors a little more anxious before the start of their test schedule.

Crusaders and national skipper Richie McCaw has been pulled out of his side's Super 14 clash tomorrow against the Lions in Johannesburg because of further concussion problems.

That revelation came a day after All Black coach Graham Henry mentioned during a national telephone conference that he and his selectors had their eye on several candidates as deputy openside flankers to McCaw.

That inspection will now get extra scrutiny in the last month of the Super 14 series from the All Black panel as they look to identify, groom and integrate McCaw's understudy into the opening 26-man squad.

The 70-test veteran McCaw has now been sidelined twice this season for concussion as well as having a lengthy break to repair a knee ligament injury.

He was concussed in 2004 against England, played soon after but was then rested for three months before being knocked out and concussed the following year against the Bulls.

At that stage, All Black coach Graham Henry said: "Obviously it's a concern because he has a bit of a history of concussion."

Team doctor Deb Robinson explained that the number of previous concussions was irrelevant in managing each case. "Each is an individual event and we have strict protocols in how to manage it."

Neither the NZRU or Dr Robinson was commenting on McCaw's latest mishap which Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder described as "precautionary" when he announced his side to play the Lions.

He said McCaw felt fine before training but once he started, he felt off-colour and had been left out of the side.

McCaw returned to the Crusaders for their trip to South Africa after a lengthy layoff to repair his knee and needed stitches in his forehead after taking several blows in last week's loss against the Cheetahs.

During a wide-ranging discussion this week, Henry was asked about the search for backup to McCaw. It is a quest which has brought intermittent test work for Marty Holah, Daniel Braid, Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Adam Thomson since McCaw's debut against Ireland in 2001.

Henry said several severe injuries had hampered Josh Blackie in his return to New Zealand rugby this season though he had produced several quality performances.

"There are one or two other sevens [flankers] around the country who have played particularly well throughout the Super 14 and I think it is becoming quite competitive." Henry did not elaborate on the contenders.

The All Blacks took Scott Waldrom away late last year but did not try him in a test, preferring to use Thomson when they rested McCaw. Other opensiders who have been prominent this season in the Super 14 have been Tanerau Latimer, Alando Soakai, Karl Lowe and Justin Collins.