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All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is likely to be out of action for five weeks after straining knee ligaments in a Super 14 rugby match on Saturday.
Todd Blackadder, coach of the Canterbury Crusaders, said Monday he hoped the flanker would be fit to rejoin the Super 14 champions for their three-match tour to South Africa starting with a match against the Sharks on April 18.
McCaw will likely miss matches against the Western Force, New South Wales Waratahs, Stormers and Bulls.
"It's never a good time to lose one of the best players in world rugby," Blackadder told the Crusaders website.
"But it's a good opportunity for (McCaw's replacement) George Whitelock to step up. He played very well against the Brumbies when Richie was ruled out earlier in the season and I'm sure he'll do very well in our next game against the Force."
Seven-time champions the Crusaders have won only one of their four matches this season, losing to the ACT Brumbies, Wellington Hurricanes and Otago Highlanders.
- AP
