McCaw and naughty England, SA v Italy, Second Test etc.

I appreciate that the players have a close up view of what goes on in rucks, mauls and scrums that we don't get - and that the referees don't get too. But you do have to wonder sometimes - Northern Hemisphere sides, particularly England, have been moaning that Richie McCaw cheats all the time for the last 7 years or so. Do they honestly believe he mesmerises the referee so he can get away with stuff that they can't?

I will concede that referees can have bad games, but bad games every time they referee McCaw throughout his first class and international career? Please, do me a favour, assume I can think. Although I have a story about wingeing Aussies that would destroy the wingeing Poms stereotype forever, you do have to think this is what's going on in this case. McCaw didn't have it all his own way last weekend, but still the management and now the players are saying "He's such a cheat." Yes, again. What crap.

Whilst we're at it, I'm not sure that the big penalty that was given against him, that had Barnes baying for a yellow card, was correct. I'm not an expert in the laws, so I could be wrong, but he was done for offside. However, he was a tackler - he'd clearly been involved in the tackle, gone to ground as had the player he tackled. There was a second AB in the tackle, but that doesn't matter. A ruck hadn't formed (a ruck requires additional players from both sides make contact over the ball) and as the tackler he is entitled to play the ball from wherever he likes. Perhaps I've got the laws wrong, perhaps I didn't see clearly, but oh well. Over on SA referees someone else asked the question - and Jonathan Kaplan thought McCaw might have had a point too (last question). I'd like to say that although I think the decision was wrong, that's not to say I thought Owen had a bad game overall. He rarely makes mistakes, he certainly plays what he sees (right or wrong, can you ask for more?) and although I think he did make a mistake this time, we're all entitled to, every now and again.



In the meantime, it appears 4 England players are "helping the police with their enquiries" about a major incident in their hotel in Auckland. Oops! Pot, kettle... bending the laws on the field of play one thing, bending the laws of the land - oh dear.

Second test prediction - Despite several changes to the AB line-up and the introduction of a surprising amount of "fresh blood" NZ to win comfortably. Not as comfortably as if they'd gone in with the same side, but England are certainly weakened by the loss of Sheridan, their offence is weakened by the loss of Hodgson, and although their mid-field defence is strengthened, NZ can and will attack from enough different places and different angles that it won't really matter.

Poor Italy... Italy don't, generally, travel well - look at their Six Nations results. South Africa are currently making a better fist of defending the RWC-holders tag than England ever did, and have fielded a strong looking side. South Africa at home are always a challenge, and this will be a challenge too far, probably much too far, for Italy. This could easily be a 50+ point margin of victory, and it could be a 70+ point margin. South Africa will score, and their line won't be threatened unless Italy have found a better number 10 (or the 6N incumbent has improved his skills markedly).