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Richie McCaw admittedly pushes the envelope to the point that if he can safely break the law, then he thinks he has the right to do so. As he openly expressed in a recent interview featured in the Courier Mail, McCaw tests referees early “to know what you can get away with.”
Is this someone our children look up to? Are we teaching the youth of today that boundaries are there to be broken and as long as you don’t get caught it’s okay?
I fail to see the infatuation with a player and leader who prides himself on being able to play outside the laws of the game yet inside the sanctuary of the referee’s mood for the day.
McCaw is a rugby player with buckets of talent and great skill who plays his heart out week in week out. That is undeniable.
He has speed, vision and is hard as nails. A perfect combination for an all-rounded player. He shouldn’t need to resort to underhanded tactics to give his team an advantage come game day.
No player should.
So who’s getting it right? Obviously McCaw is, and to his credit. He could be christened a modern game genius. But the real question at heart is, are our professional referees strong enough to deal confidently with high profile personalities within the laws laid out by the IRB?
Rugby laws shouldn’t be open to interpretation and they shouldn’t be looked over or ignored. Grey areas should be limited to human error.
If one steals an item from the supermarket and gets away with it because one knows how to cheat the system, is it pure genius or an offence?
The answer is clear.
Are we now confined to a society where we praise an individual who self proclaims to constantly test the boundaries of the law of the game to see how much he can get away with? We should be celebrating players who play a hard, fair game with skill and talent. Not celebrate players who are naturally talented, yet buck the system.
The upcoming months and the lead up to the world cup will inevitably define many players, coaches and refs. With increasing technology and video analysis of rugby games there will be nowhere to hide for those who continually flaunt their indiscretions.
Unfortunately McCaw’s career will be defined by the outcome of the next world cup. Will he lead his troups to victory or a second dismal failure? So is Richie McCaw a genius or a cheat?
Well, to me, he’s a darn good rugby player!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.