The Crusaders have dismissed fears that captain Richie McCaw's latest bout of concussion is a serious issue or could affect his long-term playing career.

McCaw has been ruled out of his team's Round 12 Super 14 match against the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday with what the Crusaders said was a "mild concussion".

The Crusaders confirmed that two head knocks - the first against the Sharks in Week 10 and then again last week against the Cheetahs - have forced the star flank to take a break this week.

McCaw suffered a cut above his left eye during the 13-20 loss to the Cheetahs last weekend and also took a knock to his head. He also cut his forehead in the 16-13 win over the Sharks the weekend before.

The Crusaders confirmed that after the Cheetahs match McCaw showed some "concussion symptoms" and it was decided after Thursday's captain's run that he would be replaced at openside flank by Jonathan Poff.

The concussion is not thought to be serious, according to coach Todd Blackadder.

"We wanted to wait to see how he was at training and beforehand Richie said he was feeling okay,'' Blackadder said.

"But at the training he said he was not feeling 100 percent, so we have decided to rule him out.''

Normal concussion guidelines in these cases suggest a 5-10-day recovery period, but McCaw will not play until he is asymptomatic.

He will be monitored day by day as to his predicted return to the playing field.

McCaw has had concussion problems throughout his playing career.

He was also ruled out of the Week Two loss to the Brumbies in February because of a head knock. He returned for the Week Three loss to the Hurricanes, but then suffered a knee injury which sidelined him for six weeks.

McCaw's concussion problems go back several years.

In April 2005, in a heavy collision with Bulls prop Richard Bands, he was knocked out cold and carried off the field on a stretcher at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

He missed the rest of the Super 14 and only returned for the All Blacks' internationals in mid-year.

That followed earlier concussions which kept him out of the game for months as well.

In the meantime young Poff has been installed as the Crusaders' new openside flank.

Poff travelled to South Africa as a late replacement for George Whitelock, who damaged a knee cartilage during the team's first training run in Durban and returned to Christchurch.

Poff has impressed during his limited opportunities for the Crusaders. He came on as a replacement in the victory over the Stormers on March 28, his first match for the Crusaders, and head coach Todd Blackadder is sure he will do well against the Lions.

"Poffy is a tough guy and a really good player. He had an excellent Air New Zealand Cup season with Tasman and has done well on the training field, particularly since linking up with us in South Africa," Blackadder said.

Whitelock has had keyhole surgery on his injured knee and could return for the Crusaders before the end of the season.

365

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