All Blacks captain Richie McCaw made a winning return to rugby as the Crusaders beat the Chiefs 34-16 in Friday's Super 15 rugby match at Baypark Stadium in Mt Maunganui.

The flanker, who has not played this season after picking up a stress fracture in his foot, entered the fray in the 50th minute.

Despite having a hand in a try, McCaw was understandably subdued in a match which was big on endeavour but littered with errors despite the perfect conditions.

The Crusaders, on the back foot for much of the match, used their counter-attacking prowess to score four tries, netting a valuable bonus point in the process.

The Chiefs, who caused their opposites plenty of problems at the breakdown, could only manage a solitary try to winger Lelia Masaga.

"It was really scrappy and both teams nullified each other quite a lot. We've definitely got a lot to work on," said Crusaders captain Kieran Read.

Chiefs skipper Mils Muliaina claimed the result was not a fair reflection on the game: "I think we were pretty competitive for the majority of the game but unfortunately we relaxed a little bit and turned over ball, and against a team like the Crusaders you can't afford to let your guard down."

The hosts were dealt a cruel blow in the opening minute when openside flanker Tanerau Latimer collided with the Crusaders prop Owen Franks.

The five-test All Black collected a sickening blow to his cheek and lay dazed and confused as play continued around him.

He was eventually helped from the field to be replaced by Scott Waldrom who had expressed his dissatisfaction during the week at being left out of the staring lineup.

For Franks, it was his second knockout blow his head has landed in successive weeks after the Bulls' Flip Van Der Merwe suffered a similar fate in Timaru last week.

The Crusaders took the lead in the seventh minute after the Dagg-Guildford partnership combined to send centre Robbie Fruean over, but the Chiefs were back on level terms four minutes later, when Isaac Ross released Masaga who raced to the line.

With the Chiefs in the ascendancy and looking threatening, a loose pass from Mike Delany was scooped up by Sean Maitland who showed his pace to outstrip the defence and notch his eighth try of the Super 15 season.

Delany kept the Chiefs close with two penalties as the hosts went to the break trailing 17-13.

There was no let up in the intensity in the second half, with the Chiefs again making most of the running early on but Andy Ellis, who came on at the same time as McCaw, over for what would prove to be the match-winning try 12 minutes after the restart.

They withstood determined Chiefs pressure in the second half, and Liam Messam showed his frustration with some niggle from Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn with a punch sure to lead to a date with the judiciary.

Ellis, who looked sharp in his outing, created the final try after a dart but McCaw looked to have knocked on his pass that landed gratefully in the arms of replacement lock Luke Romano who crossed under the posts to secure the bonus point try.

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