Richie McCaw’s work at the breakdown is the text book studied by aspiring flankers, now the teacher is going back to school.
Like all other Super 14 players, McCaw must negotiate his way through the various interpretations referees will use at the tackle area in this year’s competition. Basically, tacklers must give their prey time to release the ball before they attempt to pilfer possession. All the sly leaning on victims, pushing up on the ball without releasing it and similar shortcuts will not be tolerated by match officials.
The Stormers have been trialling a new scheme of clapping their hands over their prey to show officials they have given the tackled player a chance to play the ball. Clapping of hands ? Oohh dear…
McCaw who will not suit up for his 92nd game for the Crusaders until about round three of the series has been trialling his ideas at training and did not see a massive level of exasperation with the changes. “It might be there is a whistle-fest in the first 10 minutes but that is okay if the referees have drawn a line in the sand. As long as they do that it would be silly not to adjust. “You have still got to have a contest, it has got to be right or wrong, black or white.”
McCaw, who is acknowledged as one of the master pilferers in world rugby, said the change would not be exasperating as long as referees ruled as they had promised. “As long as we know where we stand. They have said they are going to be pretty hard on it and as long as they do that for the whole season, every week, then you have to adapt to it.”
Players would have to be far more selective and accurate about trying to steal a turnover and they might only get a couple of chances in any game. Players had used this grey area in the game to their advantage, testing the referees’ judgment when they were almost on their feet or getting back to that position. Some officials were more lenient but this year the referees had vowed to be far more strict in the tackle area so unless the tackler had a genuine chance for a steal, the side with the ball should be able to create more continuity.
“It’s all good in theory, it will be just interesting to see how it goes,” said McCaw. “Teams that are really accurate and figure that out to get their breakdown right, will be the ones that do pretty well.”
How well will the Crusaders do if Reeeeeeeeeecheeeeeeeeeeee isn’t allowed to cheat anymore?
Have no doubt McCaw will be his usual best with the new law. Then so will Brussow who I think was the best in the world last year.
It is all about breaking the (bad) habit.
LH
Why must he cheat ? Because he is better at his job than anyone else ? I like his attitude, learn the new laws, listen to refs then do your best.
If anyone can study & adapt he can – the guy flies planes & gliders for “fun” in his spare time 😉
Hello RP. How you doing?
Hello Puma 😀
I am doing jolly well thanks … fresh back from a long weekend away that involved a *VERY* delicious bottle of Dom Perignon 1995 vintage & close enough to Super 14 that I can almost smell the sweaty socks in the changing rooms – life is good !
You ? What is happening in sunny Africa today ?
RP, Your weekend sounded awesome.
All is well here in sunny SA 😀
Like you can not wait for the S14 to start. Feels like such a long time back we watched some good rugby.
Have to check the fixture of the 7’s. Does it start tomorrow?
Puma
It was a good weekend 😀 i must admit I was a little nervous knocking the top off the champers … what if, after all this time, it did not “pop” ? 😯
Yes Wellington, tomorrow for Sevens 😀
RP, Pleased it popped off then…hehe 😀
Looking forward to the 7’s in Wellington. Probably for me it is the best 7’s venue. Big fancy dress and a brilliant vibe going on down there. Should be good.
Puma
Yes, it seems Wellington is following Hong Kong’s example of making it a party with some rugby going on – the whole reason it was a success in the first place ! Also, it was Hong Kong’s success that gave the IRB pause for thought after which they decided “I am going to get me some of that !”. Hence the beginning of truly expensive tickets 🙁
10 – Thought the tickets to the 7’s would have been reasonable. Suppose once something is good then you pay.
Enjoy the Wellington 7’s and the Hong Kong 7’s the most. Brilliat vibe at both.
brilliat = brilliant
I can already see the tacticians hard at work devising cunningly engenious plans to combat the strict interpretations.
I think it’ll be VERY interesting to see how the ref’s handle the 6 Nations games at the weekend, and compare it the following week in the S14.
I’m sure there will still be massive descrepancies between North and South.
Stormers clapping their hands lol lol lol
GBS is busy woodworking and makeing himself a set of wooden chompers for the day his teeth decide to fall out from sucking on all that condese milk.
15 – Hello Treehugs, How you been?
Where is everyone here? Where is gbs these days?
Helloooooooooooooo
Yip, I’ve been scarse… but yip I’m still in the land of the living.
Have not had time to blog, have also promised Handbriekie that I will work less at night and spend more time with her like a good husband is supposed to do.
It does not mean I have forgotten you guys or that I suddenly have less passion for rugby, but we are going into a very busy rugby season shortly, so family time is of the essence now.
As you know, I have burned the candle both ends for long now since inception of R-T and it has done damage where it should not have.
Anyway, busy finalising our League and Competition format for here LOCALLY on R-T… so that is due very shortly… will most probably finish it tonight as I work on the last throws of it on the little Notebook from the comfort of the house, not from the office.
Hey…. goooooooooooi mieliesssssss
…. and…. die lewe is ‘n lied, sing hom uit volle bors!
17 – GBS, Good to see you here boet. Look spend all the time with Handbriekie now. Rugby season going to be very long. Don’t worry boet we all have the same problem with our other halves about the blogging..hahaha.
Just keep this blog going boet. I is a good blog and need the bloggers to come back. Need new threads each day too. Then I know it will come once the rugby starts next week.
Keep well boeta. Before I go, where is Pietman? Miss his posts here.
18@ Puma – Pietman is in SA, Franskraal in the Cape to be exact.
I’ve finally got a cell no for him, he phoned me… and he’ll be sorted out with own cell phones and the works within days. Still struggling with his wife’s residency shit and because of that her import permits and stuff for her business here.
He’ll he here, do not worry.
19 – GBS, Tell Piet hello from me. Hope it all gets sorted out for him with his wife’s residency here.
Lookward to speaking with Piet again.
Cheers GBS. Huge storm now here in Joburg. Going to turn off my pc. Jeepers one forgets these storms when away from the highveld for a long time.
20 – sorry meant look forward.
Hiho GBS nice to see you back in our little world.
Greetings Puma hope you going to keep faith in the Sharks and think postively.
Will be nice to see Pietman online again, havent seen him for ages.
OH SAINTLY ONE – where is the bulls thread, we need a laugh !!!!!!!!!!!!! 😎
Evening All, don’t forget your 6 Nations Superbru will you boys and girls!
Loosehead has joined me as an England Supporter…. Yayyyy 😀
🙁
Time to bath the dog (and that is not a euphamism)!!!
Carol you picked Wales to win against England??????
SuperBul, I let my head rule my heart (for a change)!!
I want England to win but think Wales might just do it!! 🙁
Yes that is how i picked too, Wales by 5. But it worries me that the game is at Twikenham.
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