Richie McCaw in action against the Chiefs in Christchurch on Friday night. He isn't concerned about his form.

Richie McCaw accepts his form must improve.

He was out-played by fellow All Blacks openside flanker Sam Cane when the Chiefs beat the Crusaders 26-9 on Friday night, but All Blacks captain McCaw says he isn't coasting and there is no need to be concerned about his slow start in World Cup year.

McCaw, who started at No 7 after being on the bench for the previous two games against the Highlanders and Sharks, was unable to match All Blacks team-mate Cane's tackle ratio and turnover count at AMI Stadium.

While McCaw battled to create turnovers, Cane made a vital steal when the Crusaders created a set-move from a 5m scrum, which involved Nemani Nadolo charging the ball up from first receiver in the third quarter, and executed another brilliant robbery at the breakdown in the 70th minute.

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"I'm probably not playing at ... my peak and it is probably the same for a lot of us in the Crusaders," McCaw said on Radio Sport on Sunday.

"When you are going backwards and stuff, it is hard to have an impact and I would say in the last couple of weeks I certainly haven't had the impact I would like."

Barring injury McCaw, 34, is guaranteed to lead the All Blacks at the World Cup. He demonstrated mental toughness and physical resilience when he broke his metatarsal bone twice, before and during, the 2011 tournament.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who on Sunday met with senior players and management team in the first leadership meeting of the year, is likely to want to start in McCaw in all sudden-death games at the World Cup but is expected to rotate him with Cane in pool play.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has swapped his opensides this year, starting Matt Todd against the Highlanders and Sharks.

The vastly-experienced McCaw said he won't be making drastic changes to improve his form.

"But there is no point panicking. You have to go back to preparing well the next week and back yourself. When things don't click, they don't click. But hopefully we are not too far from sorting that out."

Blackadder jumped to McCaw's defence.

"I thought that was one of the best games I had seen Sam play, while Richie just can't buy a trick," Blackadder said. "He has just about been refereed out of the game [at the breakdown] this year. But when you look at his workrate and what he is doing around the paddock, I think he is right up there as one of our best players.

"The willingness and desire is certainly there."

McCaw also defended his fellow All Blacks at the Crusaders, stating the side's poor form wasn't because they were distracted by the looming 2015 World Cup in September.

"Unfortunately the nature of sport it is a tough thing to do every week," McCaw added. "But it is not through a lack of trying. I guess it is easy to stand back and say that, but when you are in amongst it and see the amount of effort that goes in, it would be hard to come to those conclusions."