If you read the following article carefully and look how they  explain Richie McCaw,s play as legitimate one wonders if the harsh criticism of  Peter de Villiers is not just a opportunistic chance  to kick us while we are down.

They seize this opportunity to put doubt in everything we did or do. Our kick and chase game is now rubbished because we miss the real architect of that game. They know the master will be back and if they can make us believe them now, they know very well that we will move away from our most feared game plan.  There is simply not enough time left to change the Springboks historic game plan now and be ready before the World Cup.

There is no way that they can run from their own tryline in a World Cup final. In fact  if we put the right pressure on them now, and our tackling was a little more accurate the results and success could have been the same as last year.

Read the article…..

PHIL WAUGH and Rod Kafer have weighed into the debate surrounding Richie McCaw’s activities at the breakdown, but far from branding the All Blacks skipper a repeat transgressor have urged the Wallabies to follow his ”smart” style of play.

As Robbie Deans’s men prepare to face the seemingly unstoppable All Blacks at Etihad Stadium next Saturday, Waugh said the Wallabies shouldn’t read much into comments by Springboks coach Pieter de Villiers that referees are turning a blind eye to McCaw’s foul play.

”It’s about responding to how the referees interpret the breakdown during the game – and obviously all referees are different,” Waugh said. ”And the quicker you get the interpretations right for the game the better you’re going to perform in the game.

”Richie’s a very astute and smart rugby player who picks that up very early in the game, which allows him to push the limits. And that’s what he’s out there to do.

”He’s obviously been a real leader in the game ever since he came on to the scene in 2001 and he’s very good at it. He’s probably had times and moments during the past few years where he hasn’t got away with it as much as he would have liked. But in any circumstance, people in our position push the limits and he’s obviously one of the best at getting on the right side of that fine line.

”It’s about being influential in the game and he’s getting back to where he was three or four years ago of being a real influence on the game and good luck to him. You’ve got to push the game to the limit.”

Expert commentator Kafer agreed with Waugh and said the Wallabies could do worse than try to imitate aspects of the All Blacks’ game. ”It’s pretty obvious the Springboks are playing last year’s rugby and the All Blacks are playing next year’s rugby – I think Australia’s stuck somewhere in between,” he said. ”That’s probably the difference for the All Blacks.”

Kafer urged Australia to play an expansive game next Saturday or risk the same fate as the Springboks, who suffered consecutive losses to New Zealand in the first two matches of the 2010 Tri Nations series.

”Richie has changed his game quite significantly. The way he plays he’s become much more of a link player,” he said. ”But for a variety of reasons against the Springboks it suited him to go back to the old-school Richie McCaw of being a real factor at the breakdown. The Springboks played it very tight and that played into Richie’s hands.

”If you play it tight then he’s always somewhere in and around the breakdown. If you play anything close you’re going to run into him. And that’s dangerous.”

While Kafer has no issue with McCaw’s tactics at the breakdown he did suggest his stature in the game has some effect on how McCaw is treated by referees.

”Every player tries to make the most of the breakdown and Richie McCaw’s got the slight advantage of being captain – he commands a little bit more respect from the referees from time to time, I think,” he said. ”But I’m happy for him to do the same thing against Australia. I don’t think it’s illegal whatsoever.

”I think Australia competes well at the breakdown with David Pocock, Matt Hodgson and Rocky Elsom. We’re equally adept but you’ve got to remember we’re up against what people will regard as arguably the best No.7 of all time. It’s a pretty high bar. We’ve got to be smart.”

16 Responses to Is the Springbok view of Richie McCaw really so wrong?

  • 1

    Ja, McCaw & Pockock en wie speel ons on hulle te counter? Niemand!

    Hierdie artikel se wat elke coach weet, of moet weet.

    Ek kan rerig nie glo ons speel sonder ‘n fetcher nie. Kyk hoe het ons gesukkel teen B&I Lions to Brussow af was.

  • 2

    Lank en kort van als is hy val die bal toe dis sy geniale styl.nee wat as dit tien jaar terug was en die manne kon nog regtig ruck sou hy nie juis n faktor gewees het hie,hy sou n bloed kol op die gras gewees het,en daai hanne wat so deur kom in die losskrums hougaard is reg TRAP hulle

  • 3

    Jy sien my punt in smallies. Hy lees glo die refs, hy is glo slim, hy word glo gerespekteer omdat hy so groot kaptein is.

    Ek dink dat John Smit sy aura verloor het en refs is gatvol vir hom, hy word glad nie meer deur die refs gerespekteer nie. Sy sell by date is verby, sorry.

  • 4

    @ superBul:
    neewat hy is net ‘n vuilgat wat weet hoe om gat te kruip of in ingils hy is die ref’s pet

  • 5

    As jy McCaw wil counter is die konspe eenvoudig. Jou baldraer moet support he, as hy in n’ tackle situasue beland moet hy of dadelik kan offload, of alternatief moet die eerste supporter sy hande op die bal kry en die tweede supporter McCaw afdryf van die bal.

    Rucking is nie meer “legal” nie maar jy mag n’ man van sy voete of dryf, sodra hy op die grond is moet hy die ball los.

  • 6

    from rugby.com.au

    The Qantas Wallabies will appeal Quade Cooper’s two-match ban ahead of their Bundaberg Red Tri-Nations Rugby Union clash with New Zealand in Melbourne on Saturday night.
    The Australians lodged an appeal on Monday, which is likely to be heard by phone hook-up in Sydney on Wednesday.
    It will be heard by three judicial officers, one from each Tri-Nations country.

    The Wallabies wouldn’t reveal any details BUT IT’S BELIEVED THEY WILL APPEAL AGAINST THE SEVERITY OF COOPER’S TWO-MATCH BAN, WHICH WAS COMPARATIVELY HEAVIER THAN THOSE HANDED OUT FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES BY TWO SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYERS.

    i dont know whether i should be shocked 😯
    or
    whether
    i should laugh my ass off 😆

  • 7

    ashley @ 6
    and
    no, its NOT A LATE APRIL FOOL’S JOKE!!

  • 8

    6 @ Ashley:

    I rest my case 😯

  • 9

    Mense kan se wat hulle wil van Richy,maar hy is goed. Ek reken enige span sal meer as happy wees om a speler soos hy te he. Ek twyfel ons sou so kla as hy n Springbok speler was

  • 10

    bos_otter @ 9
    agree

    blouste @ 8
    lol, jaaaaaaaaaaaa boet!!

  • 11

    bos_otter @ 9
    o
    en ekt eers gedog jy praat van ricky
    toe
    besef ek: “nee, jy praat van richie” 😆

  • 12

    Keep doing what we are doing.

    Smacking the Wallas in SA is essential, we don’t turn into a kak team in a year. And where were all these experts during the S14 when the bulls and stormers ruled the roost? We were playing the exact same rules albeit with SH refs. Maybe that is the problem.

  • 13

    onerb @ 12
    thats exactly the problem … i think superbul ran a thread during the s14 to show the amount of penalties given by the different refs at the tackle/breakdown area
    and
    the nz/aus refs (apart from dickenson) were way more lenient at that part of the game
    than
    their sa counterparts!!
    add to that
    that the crusaders and hurricanes were the teams during the s14 who conceded the most penalties at the breakdown area
    and you start to get the picture!!

  • 14

    all this doesnt matter.
    When you transgress 3 times on the line and Boks have already been carded….to display consistency, the ref should card him…he didnt. This is double standards.
    despite the fact that I am a great admirer of mcCaw and would put him in my team anytime….but I wouldnt make him Captain.

  • 15

    Geez…this place is like a morgue

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