McCaw and Gallen: a contrast in styles

JVGO, I'm not arguing with your point but I'd just llike to point out that the 11 All Blacks probably means current and past All Blacks. In the NZ press, once an All Black, always an All Black. I remember around and before the time of Lauaki's misdemenours, a few ex-All Blacks (and I'm talking about ones from the 1970s and 1980s) were involved in a high profile fraud cases.

Point taken. Not sure if there are any rules against reposting comments from 2010..Jokes..

Many have and many more will. Every sports fan has their own opinions. Nothing wrong with that. The panel of judges have their own opinions as well and we've just got to live with their decision. My vote went with Pocock. Unfortunately for Pocock and myself the judges went with McCaw. No dramas. Its not like the judges don't know how to judge a players form. They're all former test players who are respected by the countries they represented. Just because their choice was different from yours or mine doesn't make McCaws win undeserving. The IRB appointed the independent panel to come up with a winner and they chose McCaw. Play on. He may be overated in yours and many other peoples books and thats fine as well. But alot more people rate him than don't and that included the former test players that judge the IRB Test Player of The Year awards.

The only time anyone questioned the award was the 2009 one, and even then it was largely seen as a makeup for the fact he should have won it in 2008. Considering McCaw's record against George Smith is something like 16-3, I'd probably prefer McCaw to play for my life. To be honest, the only thing Smith was better at was passing and I think McCaw's improved that in the last few seasons to be just as good as Smith was. If you want to see McCaw's effect on the teams he plays for, look at the turnaround from the Sydney Bledisloe in 2008 to the Eden Park return match a couple of weeks later.

But apparently many have questioned mcgaw winning some of those titles as underserving, a bit like micheal jordan great player no question but a media man who brings in dollars a media favourite during his playing career. Many said segio peruse of Italy had better season than Mcgaw last year No 8 for Italy, Mcgaw is great but id still prefer George smith if i was playing for my life they are same age and yes george has declined faster than mcgaw, but George Smith at his best in my opinion was better than mcgaw. He was unbeleibale in 2001 british lions series, and outpipped him in 2003 world cup semi. And in 2009 hnerich briusoow got the better of him. Great player just a little overrated.

Ok Jonno. Apologies for the misinterpretation. Big Rig was just trolling so no need to bite. You won't get any arguments about Gallen as a player from me. I don't like some of his antics but I'll never question his ticker or league ability. Just on McCaws personal achievements. He has won IRB International Player Of The Year 3 times. The only player to have won it more than once. That is a huge personal achievement considering the number of high quality of test players out there. Even the great Dan Carter has only won it once. In 2010 David Pocock was on the shortlist. I personally thought Pocock played better than McCaw but the IRB judges didn't think so and awarded the prize to McCaw. The independent panel is made up of Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace and John Eales. Winning over 500 caps and boasting four Rugby World Cup winners medals between them. Only 1 former All Black in the panel of 9 judges. The panel watched every test match played that year and analysed the shortlist to death then voted. To sort of get an equal personal achievement from Gallen he would have to win the Golden Boot 3 times. Just because McCaw has more personal achievements rugby wise doesn't make Gallen a bad player. They both give their all when playing for their teams. Gallens playing out of his skin at the moment and McCaw just getting back into the swing of things. No shame in that..

..."The 27-year-old Chiefs loose forward, who made his international debut in 2005, is at least the 11th All Black to appear in criminal court in the past five years...." http://wwos.ninemsn.com/article.aspx?id=717175 Is this true?

Well Damien i did mean by physical size Big rig said, 100okg i small for a rugby forwad and he would get thrown around like a rag doll , which is utter nonsense Paul Gallen is not the biggest physical person int he sport of rugby union or league, but he is physically cpaableof being a rugby union forwad for sure. He is as big as some of the name si have mentioned, and plenty more to i could think of, Schalk Britz, Ross Ford, Lee Mears, he is as big as bismark du Pliessis, phil waugh, henrich brussow, geroge smith, dave pock , so it is tutee rnonesnese that paul gallen would get thrown around like a rag doll. As for rich mcgaw Damo i think you are overating him a bit with his achievements. He is one hell of a player mcgaw no doubt , but so is Paul gallen, both play different sports with similarities yet huge dirrences Rleague and run-on are different but if looking at achievements i would say neck and neck. Mcgaw has won super 15 tiptoes but no RWCups. Gallen has won 4 nations like mcgaw has won 3nations. Both have been leaders and stars of there teams, and Paul Gallen has run into the greatest QLD side ever and Mcgaw has not WITH Aust and SA ,except with sOUTH africa in 2009, and look what happened he got beat 3-0 as captain, and was outplayed by Henrich Brussow. So when the heat is on at the top level he has been found wanting if results are to go by just as much as gallen has. And gallen in a losing side has been far more dominant than Richie mcgaw has been. ANd another Mcgaw myth look at the teams he has played in the ALL BLACKS awesome in his itme except 2009, also i forgot to mentioned he lost to australiai in 2003 as a RWC team member not captian and george Smith outplayed him there to, and at crusaders he wa splaying with greatest club/provincial side of all time , where as Gallen is immense for a average to down right pathetic at times Crounlla team in his playing career. So when you look at in fact Big paul gallenis actually the higher achiever than Mcgaw he is overrated, and also he has to use the ref to get ahead like john smite, another obstacle Paul gallen faces the refs are against him. And i doubt he is truly rasicst Big Gal DIDN't start the cronulla riots lol, he just said some stupid stuff once inhte heatof battle which he was remorseful for, and in psot match interviews was he really that bad, which athletes has not just walked off adrenilan still pumping and deeply upset not been a bit ungracious in the heat of the moment, no different t say Alan Border or rich richardson as 2 examples. Richie Richardosn said straight after lisng in 1995 to Aussies something along th elides of the worst australian team ever , or who he has played against, pretty ungrateful if you ask me.

I think Jonno meant as important to the team not 'big'. Gallen doesn't come close to McCaw in terms of graciousness, achievemants in the game and fame but he is as big as McCaw when it comes to importance to the team he plays in. I'm no Gallen fan. I actually reckon he's a bit of a cheapshot artist. I reckon his management must have friends at The Daily Telegraph because he always gets good press there even though players with less indescrecions get crucified through their journos. But he has grown on me during the Origin series. Take away the post match interview of course.

Classic reply..... ps, am a Kiwi

Some of you are seriously trying to compare Gallen with McCaw? Gallen? Outside of NSW and QLD Gallen is a complete nobody. Oh and a proven racist.

POPS we know you were a warrior for australian rugby and sydney club rugby are you still playing POPS word is it your are, you went on into his 70's or 80's and is still going I hear sir , so yes i retract you a coward and have fought in harder battles on the front line and i do take my hat off to you, than origin 3 2011, but I do think you are for what it is worth way to hard on rugby league football as a sport, and these men are skill men like the rugby gentleman and are hard men and, origin is as hard as a British lions series, no doubt sir maybe you have spent to much time in to many rucks and mauls and are to bruised and battered to make accurate modern day opines about the gladiators of state of origin the finest and hardest and toughest young men from NSW and QLD.

Big Rig you wrote the dumbest comment i've ever read. Congratulations.

Yes, but in a largely smug and ill informed fashion i'm afraid.

That is nonsense Big rig does Kevin mealamu, or Saia Faianga, ben Robinson, Matt Dunning( maybe Matt Dunning does) Henrich brussow, Phil waugh get thrown around like a rag doll, do do you think SBW could cut is a rugby union forwad he is a better defender than Mcgaw, if i was playing for my life i would back SBW over kieran Reid, scott higenbotham, or adam thompson or Jerome Kaino or lima messam any day of the week, and mcgaw to, Paul gallen is as big as rich mcgaw.

State of Origin is a tough enough arena. Game 2 Gallen turned in arguably the greatest forward performance in Origin history. You can question him in many things but not his toughness.

I think wre comparing McCaw with Gallem. Not the All Blacks with Cronulla...lol

Gallen needs to spend a bit more time in a real engine room, namely a Union forward pack, where he'd get thrown about like a lightweight 100kg league forward, or maybe he should spend time in a union scrum or ruck and maul to toughen him and turn those pretty ears of his into cauliflowers - that will stop him wingeing, as well as toughen him up!

LOL. Chill Bro. I'm on your side. Just trying to make the point that the games used in this comparison is unfair. Also the cheapshots that league gets from the rugby fans on this forum is almost as bad as the ignorant statements that are posted byleague fans on The Daily Telegraph or YouTube. The punchlines are always the same with the cheapshots bothways. I suppose we can all learn from McCaws graciousness..

'The culture of professional league players is appalling..' Really? What about this professional Rugby team called the All Blacks who had 11 players before the courts in 5 years. So this article states anyway. http://wwos.ninemsn.com/article.aspx?id=717175 Oh that's right McCaw actually captains this team. By comparison I can remember maybe 2 Cronulla players being in the court in the last 5 years. Which is the more apalling?