Richie McCaw returned to Super 14 rugby as a second-half replacement for Canterbury as the Crusaders beat South Africa's Sharks 35-6 on Friday night.

The All Blacks captain missed the first two rounds while on extended leave but returned to give Canterbury a boost after a second-round loss to Queensland.

The Durban-based Sharks lost Springboks captain John Smit twice to the blood bin before he was finally forced from the field with a head cut after 69 minutes.

Zac Guildford scored two tries for the Crusaders while replacements Adam Whitelock and Quentin McDonald added tries in a bonus-point win.

Flyhalf Daniel Carter kicked three conversions and three penalties for 15 points.

"Our defence set the tone for us tonight," Canterbury captain Kieran Read said.

"There were some great hits going in from the boys and that set things up for us."

Halfback Rory Kockott kicked a long-range penalty to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead after only two minutes after Canterbury lock Brad Thorn, in his first Super 14 start of the season, was found to have dangerously tackled No.8 Ryan Kankowski.

Guildford retrieved the lead for the Crusaders in the 18th minute, cutting sharply infield from the left wing to take the final pass of a movement which began with a Sharks turnover.

Carter missed the conversion - one of his two misses - but landed a 34th-minute penalty to give Canterbury a 10-6 lead.

Penalties to Carter in the 48th and 61st minutes gave the Crusaders a 10-point lead and Guildford's intercept try in the 69th minute sealed the home team's victory.

Tries to replacements Whitelock and McDonald earned Canterbury a bonus point and left the Sharks without a win after three games.

"We've now had three disappointing results, but we were beaten by a better team tonight," Smit said.

"We made errors in defence, which you can't make against a team like the Crusaders."

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