When even the big cheese at the rugby union is singing your praises, you know you must be doing something right.

And young Matt Todd looks to be on the right track at the Crusaders.

Todd was highlighted this week by NZRU chief executive Steve Tew - a former Crusaders boss back in the day - as an example of someone benefiting from the chance to play alongside elite All Blacks. Tew had been referencing the latest rubber-stamping of the policy not to select All Blacks from offshore, and the benefits that brings in terms of player development.

"How good is it for that young No 7 at the Crusaders, for example, whose name is Matt Todd, to be playing beside Kieran Read and Brad Thorn?" asked Tew.

The answer clearly is that it is bloody good for the 22-year-old Super Rugby rookie if his performance on Friday against the Waratahs was anything to go by.

Todd was outstanding - alongside blockbusting centre Robbie Fruean the best player on the park - as the Crusaders marked their return to the field in the wake of the earthquake with an emotional victory at Trafalgar Park in Nelson.

The 1.85m, 104kg tearaway was a menace at the breakdown and cropped up all over the field as the Crusaders loosies had a field day in the middle stages against the Tahs.

It's early days yet, but on the evidence of the Nelson game, Todd has the goods at No 7 and may well soon be entering the conversation in terms of the All Black picture.

Graham Henry is still searching for a cast-iron understudy to McCaw for the World Cup.

Tanerau Latimer has been tried, and most recently the national coaches have gone back to Daniel Braid. But neither player has nailed down the spot as yet. Todd shapes as a comer who could catapult himself into the national picture, especially if he continues to play a prominent part in a Crusaders campaign steeped with emotion. Even when McCaw returns, Todd can still expect to see game-time as part of a loose forward rotation that sees him, McCaw, George Whitelock and Read as pretty much interchangeable.

Todd admitted it was an unexpected bonus getting the early run in the No 7 jersey - even if the earthquake did take out one fixture. The impressive loosie said the experience of Friday night was something he would probably never forget.

"It was a pretty special occasion playing in that game, and I guess the main reflection was just a job well done. I guess it's still sinking in the occasion that it was."

But Todd said it had been a relief for he and his team-mates to be able to get back on to the field and start the business of healing after the devastating earthquake.

"It was good to get back to a bit of normality in your life, and then get to get Friday night and be able to get out and do something you're in control of because for the previous 10 days there's been a lot of stuff you can't really control that's been happening.," he said.

Particularly pleasing, added Todd, was the way the Crusaders forwards were able to harness all that emotion and turn it into an effective performance.

"There was always going to be plenty of emotion flying around and the key was using it in a sensible manner and utilising that. The forwards laid a great platform and that allowed us guys in the loose to do our job."

Crusaders look like a team on a mission.