By RICHARD KNOWLER - The Press
Richie McCaw and Melissa Ruscoe will create a unique slice of history tomorrow afternoon when they represent the Christchurch club.
The two national captains - McCaw leads the All Blacks and Ruscoe is the Black Ferns skipper - will both play in the club's colours when the senior men's and women's teams meet Lincoln University and Sydenham respectively at the Westminster St grounds.
It will be McCaw's first match since injuring his knee with the Crusaders in the Super 14 semifinal on May 24 and the first time he has played for his club since it contested the Christchurch metro club final in 2001.
The All Blacks coaches have requested the openside flanker play tomorrow to test his match fitness ahead of the Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Eden Park on July 18.
Last night McCaw, who had just completed a two-day training camp with the All Blacks in Wellington, joined the squad at training. He will start at No7 and regular opensider Matt Todd will shift to the other flank.
McCaw has attended three trainings with the team over the last week. His appearance is expected to attract a large crowd and although there will be no charge to enter the ground, there will be a collection for the St JohnAmbulance.
Meanwhile, it seems a long shot on whether All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter, who is recovering from his ruptured Achilles tendon, will be fit in time to represent his Southbridge club.
Although he watched a club match last weekend, the senior coaches have received no word on whether he will represent Southbridge during his comeback from the injury he suffered while playing for French club Perpignan.
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