How many more times can McGaw get away with cheating?

[Nailsworthstiger]

Watching NZ and Georgia and noticing Richie McGaw at the scrum cheating every time. He stands up, he disengages when the scrum is still active, the lot. Why can't the ref's pay more attention to what he is doing? Even the commentators seem to be oblivious to what he does.

He has just got to be the most compulsive cheat ever.

[jgriffin]

Agreed but also every attack the usual block run to create a defensive hole. They never change and virtually no ref ever does them. Most refs ref only one side, and they were lucky enough to find one in the last WC.

[fleabane]

As someone has posted on another thread, you push the rules, and if the ref doesn't ping you, you keep doing it. Not unknown, not even at our very own WR!

[Stu_F]

The answer to question, at international level, is 14 years...and counting!

[Northenlad]

It's only cheating if you get caught - ask our own Neil Back

[jgriffin]

I would like to point out, although I have long pointed out refs blind eye (except Barnes) to the ABs ploys, they are also one of the few international teams that (largely) properly engage at the breakdown (unlike Wales for instance), probably because rucking drills are part of their junior system.

[G.K]

How many more times can McGaw get away with cheating?

Until he retires I would say.

[WiggoTiger]

NZ get away all the time with cheating. Its been happening all WC

[Cagey Tiger]

NZ get away all the time with cheating. Its been happening all WC

And every WC

[Dr H Flashman MBE]

I don't mind McCaw playing to the edge of the game or even stretching the rules. I never once complained or moaned about MJ or Backy bending the rules. McCaw is a legend and we would have loved to have him in our team. So what he plays close to the line or over it? That's what made us champions, pushing the limits of the game, Rightly or wrongly.

[fentiger]

I don't mind McCaw playing to the edge of the game or even stretching the rules. I never once complained or moaned about MJ or Backy bending the rules. McCaw is a legend and we would have loved to have him in our team. So what he plays close to the line or over it? That's what made us champions, pushing the limits of the game, Rightly or wrongly.

Yes, I think, as Tigers fans we should be aware of hubris and hypocrisy

[Doghashadhisday]

Didnt the great World Cup winning team of 2003 go down to 13 men when camped on their own line against NZ before the World Cup. Watching Tigers v Munster I could not believe we won a scrum against the head at a crucial moment until a friend sent me a text! Pot, Kettle, Black springs to mind

[fentiger]

Didnt the great World Cup winning team of 2003 go down to 13 men when camped on their own line against NZ before the World Cup. Watching Tigers v Munster I could not believe we won a scrum against the head at a crucial moment until a friend sent me a text! Pot, Kettle, Black springs to mind

The, Irish, landlord in my local still bears a huge grudge about 'the hand of Back', and frequently wastes little time reminding me of it

[Cagey Tiger]

Didnt the great World Cup winning team of 2003 go down to 13 men when camped on their own line against NZ before the World Cup. Watching Tigers v Munster I could not believe we won a scrum against the head at a crucial moment until a friend sent me a text! Pot, Kettle, Black springs to mind

The, Irish, landlord in my local still bears a huge grudge about 'the hand of Back', and frequently wastes little time reminding me of it

Those who live by the sword die by the sword. All teams cheat in one way or another, especially in finals. Back's hand was just a bit more obvious than the usual. NZ just seem to be better at getting away with it.

[MrPartridge]

To be honest, this is what happens when you are the best. McGaw has built a reputation in the same way Messi, Jordan, Maradona, etc have/did. Refs know they are the best and therefore these players get the majority of the 50/50 decisions. It might not be 'fair' but it is wholly unsurprising. And I'd love to see him at Tigers for a season playing on the 'edge of legality' for us...