Richie McCaw'd reaction time tested ahead of Crusaders semi-final against the Bulls

Crusaders rugby captain Richie McCaw's reaction time was tested well before Friday's Super 14 defeat of the Brumbies...


To his horror, McCaw found his passport in a dishevelled state after going through the washing machine, but realising a trip to South Africa for the semifinals was a strong possibility, he lodged an emergency passport application on Wednesday.



A replacement arrived in time and the team left for Sydney today.



They won't leave there until tomorrow, as the third-qualifying Waratahs had first rights to business class seats for today's flight to South Africa.



The seven-time champions face the defending champion Bulls in a stellar semifinal at Soweto on Sunday morning (3am NZT), the top-qualifying South Africans sure to start favourites as they seek a third title in four years.



Acknowledgements:- NZPA

Related articles by Zemanta

• 2010 Super 14 Season Review: Chiefs (bleacherreport.com)
• Super 14 Week 12: No Kiwi Sides in the Semifinals (bleacherreport.com)
• Champion Crusaders face another Super 14 rugby season ... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Super 14 Power Rankings: Round Eight (bleacherreport.com)
• Week 4 of the 2010 Super 14: Reds Create a Massive Upset (bleacherreport.com)
• Bath hope for redemption at the scene of their crime (guardian.co.uk)
• Super 14 Betting odds - 8 May 2009 (marcforrest.com)
• 2010 Super 14 Season Review: Hurricanes (bleacherreport.com)
• Deon Carstens to leave Sharks for Saracens at end of Super 14 season (guardian.co.uk)