McCaw and the law

All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw has been forced to defend himself again after Bok captain Johann Muller accused him of getting away with illegal tactics – particularly at the breakdown.

McCaw, who has been yellow-carded just once in his 54 Test career, admitted his surprise at Muller’s allegations.

“I must be playing all right, I guess. I don’t even think about it to be honest, I just laugh at it and carry on. I was doing what I usually do and all I thought about afterwards was perhaps I must have played OK,” said the All Blacks captain.

McCaw is getting used to the accusations from his opponents about his style of play and particularly his ability to get to the breakdown first and get his hands on the ball before the defenders arrive.

“It gets a bit tiring after a while but I guess it is what you expect. The position you play and being a part of this team there are always going to be bits and pieces like that. I just get on with it really.

“The law is pretty clear in what you can and cannot do. What is tough, from the referee’s view and for people watching, is that everything happens so damned quick.

“This means that where a referee looks often determines who will be in the firing line more than others. How you fix that I have no idea.

“There are different interpretations because some referees look more harshly at the tackler on the ground, whereas other referees look at the guys arriving. That makes it tough.”

McCaw offered some advice to his opponents, saying the best way to avoid conceding penalties at the breakdown was to carry the ball over the advantage line.

“Then it is really clear to work out who is infringing. When you play behind the advantage line you get in trouble because they can slow the ball down quite legitimately as we have to retreat through the gate.”

He seemed puzzled at allegations that his reputation intimidated referees.

“I wouldn’t have thought so and if it did the ref shouldn’t be reffing. He has got a lot of other things he needs to be doing and if he gets influenced by the crowd or players talking then we have got a lot of trouble.

“I will have a go at the ball until the ref tells me I can’t and then I will make an effort to get out of the way. As long as I do that and know what is happening then hopefully I should get away with it, it should work pretty well.”

All Blacks team-mate Jerry Collins defended his captain.

“If you are the coach of the other side, you are always going to come up with some distraction or highlight some point about the other team’s game. Obviously, if I was playing on the other side, I would say the same thing,” said the All Blacks hard-man.