McCaw finds a new way to cheat

[FrankLind]

I'm glad the illegal shepherd is being taught in Oz, assuming players are playing in front of the ball. I even noticed Higgers doing it in Newcastle.

But that blocking line by McCaw in Christchurch (from a scrum) was egregious because it was started so early and when he was so far in front of where the ball was.

It began when he was 8 metres in front of the ball carrier and play switched from behind the scrum as he knew was going to happen. Gill had to wait because he was holding for a possible switch and once he moved in the right direction found McCaw, still running forward in front of the ball carrier, though sideways also, blocking his way.

You could have driven a semi-trailer through the artificial gap that was created by the absence of Gill.

Have a look: there's a clip in the game thread.
.

More evidence that McCaw knows how to play the ref and get away with it better than anyone else.

 

[Gagger]

Just so Dam0 and FrankLind can sleep at night - is this an acceptable statement?

Richie McCaw is one of the biggest cheats the game of rugby has ever seen pushes the laws to their limits like no-one else, which is a special skill. What's more he fucking well gets away with it plays the ref excellently - any decent open side should be focusing more on his game than cheating doing the same.

What's more, pointing out besmirching Richie's tactics aceness is just common sense unbecoming of ANY rugby fan, and it is all of our solemn duties to range the internets righting such wrongs.

Just let me know, I'll get it on a press release

 

[teach]

The first paragraph that sounds about right to me. I do detect a note of sarcasm with paragraph 2, I could be wrong though.

 

[Dam0]

The point is that McCaw is just as good or as bad as any other no.7, except that perhaps he is a bit more savvy than most.

Other than that, the incessant whinging and moaning is very amusing. Like I said before, it makes an All Black victory that much sweeter to come on here and see the usual suspects have a collective fit about him over and over again. Still I don't suppose there is much harm in it really, if it makes you feel better to have someone to shake your fist at, I guess.

 

[whatty]

Cheat whatever... but god dammit he has never exactly had much pace but he looks dam slow now!

 

[Gnostic]

Goto to say I loved the line from Steve Walsh last night when the Saffa player comlpained about being "rucked" after taking the space. He was penalised and Walsh said something to the effect of 'you were taking the space and will just have to accept the consequences of that'.

McCaw has simply got away with so much for such a long time that he is now a favourite with some (including me) to attack. He kicks out like a cat at Quade Cooper and then gets all whiney and indignant, with profuse support from his fans, when he gets the same back. The same fans react similarly to the sorts of statements headlining this thread, no matter how much evidence is produced. The fact is that other opensides get penalised far more than McCaw for the same offences, they don't get three warnings and no follow through.

I regard McCaw as the same as Maradonna, a supremely gifted individual, a once in a generatio type player, but also one who did (does) not play to the rules of the game intentionally, and the game will be better off without him or anybody who wants to emulate his cheating.

I choked on my dinner last night when Justin Marshal, paragon of virtue as a player, started talking about the Irish player holding back Smith as "that's cheating, plain and simple. He should get a yellow for that. Its cheating." LMFAO. Planned back row moves that have a backrower break from the scrum and run five metres away from it and have the scrum half also over five metres from the scrum and thus also offside is also cheating but was hailed by them and so many fans here as great play, and well they got away with it so its just that they cheat better.

 

[Lee Grant]

Let's stop whingeing guys - let's do it better.

 

[Scarfman]

Do you mean cheat better? Or if you prefer, "play the ref" better? That's where I don't agree. When he is retired, all he can claim is that he was the most innovative cheat of his generation. He could have chosen to make the game of rugby better instead of worse, as he has done. To me, rugby is about more than winning. If you have to win like that, I'd rather not win.

All the Kiwis say they enjoy it when people whinge about McCaw. I'm not sure that they do. They must know there's a fair bit of truth in the complaint. "He just plays the ref better" is not an honourable claim to fame.

 

[Scotty]

I half agree with you, Scarf, but we must also point the finger at the rule makers and officials, that surely know that this sort of play is going on but do very little about it.

It is often too difficult for the single ref to pick up everything on field, so a structural change is required. That could be simplification of the rules to make it easier to officiate the breakdown, more involvement from the assistant refs, a second on field ref, better training, retrospective yellow cards for blatant moves that would qualify as cheating - many options, but I am not sure what is the best.

I am in favour of some simplification of the rules around the breakdown to assist the officials. We also need more consistent refereeing standards - I don't believe teams should have to adapt to the referee - they should be applying laws more consistently. A clear example of this was the disparity between the Aus vs Scotland and Aus vs Wales games, where we did not see one penalty for tackler not rolling away in the former, but at least 3-4 in the later which assisted in cleaning up the breakdown and opening up the game.

 

[Dam0]

Do you mean cheat better? Or if you prefer, "play the ref" better? That's where I don't agree. When he is retired, all he can claim is that he was the most innovative cheat of his generation. He could have chosen to make the game of rugby better instead of worse, as he has done. To me, rugby is about more than winning. If you have to win like that, I'd rather not win.

All the Kiwis say they enjoy it when people whinge about McCaw. I'm not sure that they do. They must know there's a fair bit of truth in the complaint. "He just plays the ref better" is not an honourable claim to fame.

I just find the bolded part a ridiculous thing to say. What about all the steals he has made, the wonderful tackles and the runs he has done? If all you can focus on is a few times where he was offside and wasn't pinged then I think that is very sad.

Do you just ignore that maginificent tackle he put on Genia in the Semifinal last year where he drove him back nearly 10 metres and turned over the ball? Or the tackle and strip he made when he ended up flipping 360 degrees in the air and laying the ball back? Or a million other examples of tough uncompromising play? You ignore all that solely because you think he was offside a few times and should have been penalised more.

That is pathetic in my opinion.

 

[cyclopath]

Damo,
I don't think you'll change his opinion, neither will he yours. I'd leave it alone to save your frustration.
I don't agree with the bolder bit either.

 

[Scarfman]

I'm not blind, I realise that when McCaw plays fair, he is, or was, one of the greatest players of the game. That won't change what most non-Kiwis currently think of him, and how we'll think of him when he's retired. By spending an ever-increasing percentage of his time on the field playing illegally, he has squandered the oportunity of being remembered positively by all nations' suporters.

Anyway, getting back to the point fo this thread, have a look at his play in this game. I'm ignoring the early scrum disengages, the flopping on the wrong side, the whole usual menu of McCawisms. I'm just drawing attention to the fact that he took the crocodile roll to a new level, making it his Plan A in the ruck. I see this as an unhealthy development and I'm drawing attention to it.

Done.

 

[Gnostic]

I just find the bolded part a ridiculous thing to say. What about all the steals he has made, the wonderful tackles and the runs he has done? If all you can focus on is a few times where he was offside and wasn't pinged then I think that is very sad.

Do you just ignore that maginificent tackle he put on Genia in the Semifinal last year where he drove him back nearly 10 metres and turned over the ball? Or the tackle and strip he made when he ended up flipping 360 degrees in the air and laying the ball back? Or a million other examples of tough uncompromising play? You ignore all that solely because you think he was offside a few times and should have been penalised more.

That is pathetic in my opinion.

In your opinion, and those of like mind. How do people remember Maradonna or the French Captain Thiery (sp) from the round ball game? As immensely gifted, as they were undoubtably? Or do they remember the "Hand of God" incident/s that IMO will forever mark those players careers. In their respective country's only, will they be remembered as anything other than cheats that got away with professional foul play.

 

[Gnostic]

I half agree with you, Scarf, but we must also point the finger at the rule makers and officials, that surely know that this sort of play is going on but do very little about it.

It is often too difficult for the single ref to pick up everything on field, so a structural change is required. That could be simplification of the rules to make it easier to officiate the breakdown, more involvement from the assistant refs, a second on field ref, better training, retrospective yellow cards for blatant moves that would qualify as cheating - many options, but I am not sure what is the best.

I am in favour of some simplification of the rules around the breakdown to assist the officials. We also need more consistent refereeing standards - I don't believe teams should have to adapt to the referee - they should be applying laws more consistently. A clear example of this was the disparity between the Aus vs Scotland and Aus vs Wales games, where we did not see one penalty for tackler not rolling away in the former, but at least 3-4 in the later which assisted in cleaning up the breakdown and opening up the game.

This is a great idea and one that would surely eliminate some of the more blatant issues. There also needs to be a focus on Coaching and training also as there can be no doubt that a few of the issues being laid at McCaws feet (and the same can be said of other players with similar reputations) are playing in the manner dictated by their coaches and using pre-planned moves coached and approved of by their coaches that are clearly illegal. The coaches who encourage such behaviour should also face criticism, sanctions against them would be nigh on impossible.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I wonder if the off-field yellow could be used for this sort of cynical play.

 

[What2040]

Not a fan of the men from the Land of Darkness BUT McCaw is an absolute champion who not only utilises his skills as a 7 on the rugby park (better than the rest) but also his constant banter with the refs. Obviously Refs respect him as a player and captain of the AB'S - We need to find a captain with the same attributes. IMO James Horwill and/or Pocock do not cut the mustard (not as players - but the interactions required with the Referee) - I honestly don't know which OZ player would be best in that regard.

 

[DPK]

Nice enough guy, though.

 

[ACR]

 

[Enzedder]

McAwe doesn't break rules - he makes them. For using his name without payment of the proper royalties, this site will self destruct when Aussie next win a major title

 

[Brian Westlake]

Trying to pretend you were just winding us up when you realise it wasn't a very bright post huh scarfie, sorry I don't fall for that trick,otherwise I wouldn't be very bright

You've replied, and yesI agree with the offside part as well