Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Dylan Hartley's forearm drop on Richie McCaw

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Dylan Hartley's forearm drop on Richie McCaw

While Keven Mealamu heads to a disciplinary hearing tonight for his headbutt, England’s Dylan Hartley got off scot-free for a dangerous challenge on New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. Both incidents occurred during the Twickenham game between the two sides on Saturday which the All Blacks won 26-16.

It’s a bit strange that the one was cited and not the other, as Hartley’s shot was clearly away from the ball and looked fairly malicious. How he escaped punishment, only the citing commission knows, although they apparently did take note of the incident.

It was hinted that the retaliation after the forearm drop, mainly from Brad Thorn after the whistle, might be the reason for it being cancelled out.

All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith has said that they are frustrated with the Hartley incident not being picked up. "Yeah, I was disappointed. From what I saw, it warranted it. I don't have any comment on that, other than as I was looking at it at the time I thought 'that will be interesting'," he commented.

Mealamu was cited for breaching Law 10.4 (a) for striking an opponent with the first or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knees. It could be argued that what Hartley did should fit into that category.

The ref missed the actual shot, and although McCaw told him what happened, he did well to calm the situation down at the time. For his sake alone, you would have thought that the citing procedure would take care of the rest.

If you're into sports betting, England host Australia this weekend while New Zealand head up to Murrayfield to play Scotland.

Time: 02:44

Great hit from Thorne

By paper_tiger, at November 09, 2010 2:09 pm
Seriously though - no citing for that?

Not as brutal as the Mealamu incident - but violent conduct nevertheless.

By paper_tiger, at November 09, 2010 2:15 pm
so intentional and malicious, there was no other body part exposed except for the head.

By zacaria, at November 09, 2010 2:18 pm
That ref had such a bad day lol

By Philip, at November 09, 2010 2:33 pm
oh yeah, NZ commentators spotted that one. Seem to remember the English ones kicking off about it too.

citing if you ask me.

By chris, at November 09, 2010 2:36 pm
Should be a card at least, so I don't know why he wasn't cited.
But it's that thing again where the players get frustrated because they feel the refs aren't doing their jobs.

By Mike, at November 09, 2010 2:37 pm
What about Thorne reaction ? Shouldn't that be punishable ?

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 2:40 pm
Absolutely ridiculous behaviour...

My initial thoughts were not 'it was not as bad as the headbutt'

A few reasons for this, perhaps there were not so many angles to make it look bad...

However, it was after the whistle...

...i dont know they are both cheap shots tbh, however i do believe head on head contact is a little worse...

DEFINATE CITING THOUGH! cannot believe that one was missed...

By (u-p)rick, at November 09, 2010 2:42 pm
Typical dirty play from the English.

By KevinRudd, at November 09, 2010 2:42 pm
English always play dirty...

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 2:43 pm
'What about Thorne reaction ? Shouldn't that be punishable ?'

Not really, there wasnt much in it, more of a shove (albeit with a shoulder, no arms :D ) but there were no punches thrown. All the referee needed to do would be yellow card hartley (at least) and then tell everyone to calm down, as it was he missed hartleys little cheap shot so he told everyone to calm down...

I'd say the ref made the right choice on this video (apart from missing hartley that is)

By (u-p)rick, at November 09, 2010 2:45 pm
' KevinRudd said...
Typical dirty play from the English.

November 09, 2010 2:42 PM

Anonymous said...
English always play dirty...

November 09, 2010 2:43 PM'

Yes and the south african, pacific island, australian, NZ, british isles and the rest of the worlds players are all on the list to recieve their sainthoods are they?

By (u-p)rick, at November 09, 2010 2:47 pm
both mealamu and hartley should get suspensio´ns. It's just not fair to take a shot at someone on the ground. Very cheap

By Pedro Flerury, at November 09, 2010 2:48 pm
KevinRudd you are a douch bag - get your head out of your arse.

Did you miss the clip below??

Both incidents were bad but I think a headbutt is worse than this nomatter who did it.

By Bradders, at November 09, 2010 2:48 pm
I think the ref did have a terrible game - the 'almost try' from S.Hape should have been an England Pen as he put him into touch with a shoulder charge - no attempt to wrap!

Some aweful decisions on the day!

RD you should get that clip up.

By Bradders, at November 09, 2010 2:49 pm
if you don't want the shot on the ground get your dirty mitts off the ball then!

By Bradders, at November 09, 2010 2:50 pm
Its funny that NZ fans are calling England dirty based on Hartley's foul - Even though Hartley was born and reared in New Zealand - and it only playing for England since he played for Northampton saints.

By BigBucks, at November 09, 2010 2:55 pm
Really that's nothing compared to Mealamu's cheap shot. A headbutt in the back of the opponent's head is really really much more dangerous than that. And it's coming from a 100% neutral.

By rodofle, at November 09, 2010 2:55 pm
First off I am English, so not bias..

Think he should be pulled up for this, wasn't as bad as Mealamu, but that shouldn't matter.

Think the ref was rubbish from both sides view.

shoulder hits, slowing the game down, bad calls on line outs, off the ball hits.

think the RFU needs to step up and sort out the standard of refs so the game can be played the way we want to see, fast, flowing and fair.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:04 pm
This should absolutely be cited, once again guys teeing off with cheap shots on McCaw. Horrible day from the referee.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:06 pm
Well done to mccaw for keeping his cool, a true captain and warrior!!!

By Alexander, at November 09, 2010 3:07 pm
"English always play dirty" What a load of complete rubbish.

One of the reasons Ritchie is such a good player is his ability to bend the rules. Look at the amount of times he was in from the side contesting for the ball in that game, ive counted eight.

He is an outstanding player, but getting under others skin is inevitable if they feel he is cheating, which he clearly does.

Rugby is a rough sport, id say it is more than fair what Dylan did and I would expect nothing less as an openside if I did that.

It is a risk he takes and when he pulls it off (which 9/10 times it does) it makes him the best openside out there because of his ability to slow possesion and turnover the ball and making it look legal.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:07 pm
alright Alexander - get your tongue out of McCaws arse already - Yes he is a great player but he was cheating....Hartley saw this and took action.

By Bradders, at November 09, 2010 3:11 pm
McCaw playing the ball on the ground again.

As an England fan, yes Hartley should have been cited and got 2 weeks.

By Mike, at November 09, 2010 3:11 pm
Good to see the NZ commentators picked up on that one then instead of the deafening silence with the mealamu hit!

By Granty, at November 09, 2010 3:14 pm
English players are dirty. Never miss an opprtunity to injure an exposed player on the ground. Just as bad as the Jarpies.
Australians are mostly clean because they are mostly too soft. Not enough mongrel. Bring back Owen Finegan!!!

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:14 pm
True about the Aussies not having enough mongrel in them but calling the English dirty is ridiculous, especially in the wake of Mealamu HEADBUTTING someone?!

Grow up. This is rugby, every team does something dirty at one stage or another.

By Laz, at November 09, 2010 3:16 pm
CZX...

Thorn is just lucky Lawes didn't get his hands on him. Step back old chap..there's a new enforcer in town.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:30 pm
For all those people towing the line about McCaw deserving it because he was cheating... just what exactly was Moody doing?

Yes, Mealamu contact is with the head, but Hartley's (not far off a WWF elbow drop on the face) was after the whistle...

Both should have been cited.

By IHateScrumPenalties, at November 09, 2010 3:36 pm
Let the boys be boys. Most of the accounts will or should be settled on the pitch. Let's not overreferee the game or overreact. As far as ´dirty English´ and ´Hartley is a kiwi´-comments are concerned: it is a game of top-notch rugby played on the edge. What do you expect? Things happen but I find Tuilagi´s late/high tackle way more dangerous than the push and shove here. Just as Jimmy Cowan had it coming for a while when Bakkies Botha headbutted him, Mccaw had this one coming as well... and he knows it. Occupational hazard of being a AB no 7 playing on the edge.... Nothing more nothing less. Play on!

By Bart, at November 09, 2010 3:37 pm
As an England fan, I've got to agree that it was an awful decision not to cite him. I totally agree that Mealamu should be cited, and this is as bad. A hit to the head of a prone opponent is unacceptable.

It's a cheap and potentially dangerous shot.

He should be cited.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:43 pm
Hartley should have been cited no doubt but..

I take it we are ignoring Richies foul on Ben youngs as he cleaned him out running from an offside position stopping Youngs from exploiting the gap at the base of the break down.

The Kiwi's won because they
deserved to, they are an awesome side - but it annoys me that everybody trys to suggest that us English are dirty players - usually because we are physically stronger at tight 5 play. Anybody that knows rugby will tell you Richie M skirts with the rules more than anybody! But who can say he isn't a truely awesome payer?

Man up guys its rugby not knitting! In 2003 we where the best side in the world in 2010 The kiwi's and the Aussies are.

Adam

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 3:49 pm
He's very lucky not to have been cited.

But to anyone here moaning about the inconsistency of the citing process, really, were you expecting anything less?

Has always been a joke process, nothing has really changed.

By edbok, at November 09, 2010 3:58 pm
Fairpoint Adam - both citings though under current refereeing and that from me as an England fan...

Personally I hate McGaw and if I played at this level would probably be sent off for landing one on him whenever I could. However this is because he is an excellent player that can get away with infringements like no other so I am of course jealous!

By NiWiTa, at November 09, 2010 4:03 pm
Hartley is and always has been a nasty cunt, he consistently gives out cheap shots and I'm astonished he hasn't been cited and banned for a long time (previous taken into account).

I'm ashamed that he represents my country.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 4:04 pm
@rodofle

"And it's coming from a 100% neutral."

Well done on being 100% neutral - your medal is in the post LMFAO

By BeingNeutralDoesntMeanShit, at November 09, 2010 4:06 pm
Even for a million dollars,, I still wouldn't get into a fight with Thorn...this guy is a beast..

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 4:18 pm
Alexander said...
Well done to mccaw for keeping his cool, a true captain and warrior!!!
November 09, 2010 3:07 PM

couldnt agree more, hes been targeted twice by cheap shots, in the game with the English and with the Aussies by Cooper and always kept his cool

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 4:29 pm
Cheap shot, embarrassing for him and for England.

By Phil, at November 09, 2010 4:31 pm
Of course RM has been targetted, the same way as moody, Shaulk, williams and all good 7's are trying to get their grubby little mits on the ball!

why is it embaressing for England? no more so than any other nation thats fouls, at least in England we dont shout our mouths of about how amazing we are then sulk around like little bitchs when is doesn't go our way. Rugby is being ruined by arm chair pundits who try and bring football esq nonsense to the game. Im English and love rugby, an awesome try is an awesome try whether its Bok AB, welsh or french...

I obviously want the english to win, but at the end of the day, we are watching not playing how can we take credit or criticism for what goes on on the paddock?

Love the game stop being pussies

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 5:00 pm
^^ it's a bit early in the day to be on the beers old boy...

By Phil, at November 09, 2010 5:04 pm
suns past the yard arm!

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 5:05 pm
Well I don't think off-side-Rich did anything wrong here. If you look at 20" in, an English player (Easter I think) peels away from the maul and tried to drive it up. At that point, there's no ruck and McCaw's entitled to contest the ball. English support arrived very quickly to form a ruck but that's another matter. When Richie first got his hands on the ball he was doing nothing wrong as far as I'm concerned.

Mind you, I don't really see how Kaino was coming in at the side either, so maybe I've got some vision problems...

I remember at the time feelin frustrated by the ref, wanting to have a long chat with the captains and then another chat with Hartley and Thorn, because I thought England had momentum and as there was a penalty coming I wanted to see them keep the attack going, (wishful thinking! I suppose they'd have taken the kick at goal anyway, but you never know).

My opinion having seen this again - should have been a yellow for Hartley, but no citing. In the absence of that yellow card he should at least be going for a chat with the commissioner, even if no suspension comes out of it.

And a wonderful shove by Big Brad! Best way to deal with the cheap-shot git.

By Von, at November 09, 2010 5:33 pm
Well great news as Hartley is replacing Thompson for next game...
So if I recap the thing :
1. Come in as a sub and act recklessly
2. the IRb who saw everything in the first half, must have felt asleep during the 2nd so no citing
3. MJ thinks : wow he got away w/ that... awesome
4. Make him start as a hooker
Waz next ?
5. getting away with murder ?

gotta love the IRB for such a display of justice and fairness...

By jay, at November 09, 2010 5:38 pm
The hit wasn't off the ball though, Richie was off his feet and playing the ball on the ground, that's why Hartley went in. It could be argued that there was nothing wrong with what Hartley did because he was entering a ruck from the back, staying on his feet, and trying to drive an opposition player off the ball.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 5:43 pm
maa Nonu wanted to break courtney lawes nose :D

By crazy horse, at November 09, 2010 6:02 pm
a real cheap shot but thorne levelled it out a small bit. Should be cited, he went for his head

By mikeb, at November 09, 2010 6:07 pm
A deluded/one-eyed anonymous poster said...
It could be argued that there was nothing wrong with what Hartley did because he was entering a ruck from the back, staying on his feet, and trying to drive an opposition player off the ball.

Reality as evidenced in this video clip:
Only in some bizarre parallel universe could it possibly be argued that there was nothing wrong with what Hartley did, as he quite clearly did NOT enter the ruck from the back; most definitely did NOT stay on his feet, in fact he threw himself to the ground WWF style; and showed NO interest whatsoever in driving the opposition player off the ball, but in fact was simply aiming a cowardly cheap shot at a prone player's head.

By Von, at November 09, 2010 6:19 pm
Although of course, if you're just trolling, it seems I've just well and truly taken the bait. Oops.

By Von, at November 09, 2010 6:19 pm
all this dirty play from an England player - yet you all forget he's a New Zealander.

By goodNumber10, at November 09, 2010 6:33 pm
I actually thought that was fine. McCaw was cheating away as usual, blatantly playing the ball on the ground and hartley came in to clear him out. He didn't lead with the elbow, it just happened to catch him. McCaw deserves whatever he gets anyway for his cheating

By David, at November 09, 2010 7:08 pm
Bottom line was the ref was crap - bad decisions made against both sides!

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 7:24 pm
Bradders, time to open your other eye!

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 7:36 pm
end of the day ABs won and england arent in the same league even with two kiwis on their team haha. keep trying poms, who knows in a few years and with a few more of our unwanted players you might get there

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 7:36 pm
im neither an AB or an Eng supporter, but either its trolls or just idiots, but its funny to see everyone justifying hartleys actions because McCaw the No.7 was cheating....then you have everyone asking for mealamu's blood even though its clear that Moody the No.7 was cheating....

....i think people should wake up.....because someone was cheating it doesnt justify any sort of actions like we've seen....

By (u-p)rick, at November 09, 2010 8:01 pm
no citing needed in my opinion. the game needs to have rough dirty play...it is rugby.if one of your mates gets hit unfairly or anything like that then get in there and hit the other guy harder. im sick of all the citings that have been happening.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 8:26 pm
Hold up folks...when Bakkies leads with his shoulder he gets banned....will this twat get the same? I doubt it.

By semperfimamba, at November 09, 2010 8:43 pm
as an english fan hartley was definately wrong to do that after the whisttle and in such plain sight. definately deserved something, either card or citing. The fact that it wasnt a head butt shouldnt make a difference although head-to-head contact cna pose more of a danger.
McCaw yes did well not to react but seeing how he is such an experienced player, the captain and a true professional you would expect that. and in all honesty he will expect that at some point in pretty much any game someone will have a pop at him. he is class at bending the rules and getting away with things and really it's fair enough, get away with what you can. so when things get missed by the ref and spotted by the opposition they are bound to get frustrated and want to vernt a bit of frustration. however more experienced players will know to do this when it can't be seen and be subtle about it. the best way to do it is legally and just crunch the guy next chance you get.

By Unknown, at November 09, 2010 9:04 pm
Hartley should definately be cited. I also think McCaw qualifies to play for England based on the amount of whinging he does to the ref.

Infact the whole Kiwi team throughout the game kept appealing to the ref. Stop it or us Pomms are gonna loose our whinging status!!!

p.s. will people stop comparing the two inccidents they're different! :) COME ON BRAVEHEART!

By Jimbo, at November 09, 2010 9:35 pm
To people saying "he was born in New Zealand," pretty sure that half of the Aussie and New Zealand squads are born on the pacific islands.

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 10:15 pm
New Zealand is a pacific island you moron!!

By Sucker MC's, at November 09, 2010 10:26 pm
nice, McCheat deserves that kind of treatment all the time

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 10:53 pm
@ Anon above, stop trolling you pussy.

By Jum, at November 09, 2010 11:21 pm
Brad Thorn eh, what a machine. No one messes with Ritchie

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 11:31 pm
Rugby fans = biggest whingers

By Anonymous, at November 09, 2010 11:46 pm
When Brad Thorne puts you down, you stay down!

By PineTree, at November 09, 2010 11:50 pm
except hartley who got up 10 seconds later.

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 12:19 am
"Rugby fans = biggest whingers"

I know. Reading these boards makes me a bit sad.

By come on people..., at November 10, 2010 12:59 am
David and anyone else suggesting that McCaw deserved what he got. Are you stupid? There is a reason why intentional hits to the head are illegal in Rugby.

The guy should have been cited, and as an AB supporter am still glad that Mealamu got cited. I like Mealamu, but I do not like dirty play in Rugby. Don't get me wrong, I like rough physical rugby, but you can have that without dirty play.

In regards to England, I wouldn't say that they are a dirty team. Like most national teams, they just have a couple of guys who are that way inclined.

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 1:56 am
I think the real problem was the ref.
He let the breakdown turn into an absolute farce and this is what happens.
You get a scrappy game with heaps of cheapshots.
Something about French refs, basically most of them are just shit.

By Jono, at November 10, 2010 3:34 am
Mealanmu's incident looks much uglier, I wouldn't be surprised if he does get banned for a while. Hartley's one, to be honest, probably won't get carded by half of the refs unless of repeated infringement.

I gotta say though, he's got some balls pulling that stunt within striking distance of Big Brad Thorn.

By Jeremy, at November 10, 2010 4:00 am
Hartley deserved maybe a one week ban I think. If he was Botha he'd be banned for months.
Either way it was ilegal and it's a joke that he got away scot free.

By Tom, at November 10, 2010 4:16 am
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 4:49 am
So funny reading the 'big bad Brad Thorn' comments. When Thorn was playing league he was a weak old man, now he's playing union again he's an enforcer lol.

By Mupue, at November 10, 2010 4:51 am
Thorne made that bitch Hartley HIS bitch. Funny that in the last two games, it's been two NZ born lads taking cheap shots on NZ players.

Jealous they never made the cut I guess...

By Taniwha, at November 10, 2010 4:59 am
I'm sure he knows it's a moronic thing to say, Bill - thus the hiding behind the Anonymous name and all. This being the internet, people tend to (at least on this site) say things that are stupid and irritating just to get your Irish up.

League is a great sport. Unfortunately, I never get to see it. Living where I do, I'm lucky enough that I get to see Union games as often as I do.

By frankie says relax, at November 10, 2010 7:28 am
just watched both. Mealamus was wayyyyyy worse in my opinion

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 9:14 am
richie mc caw get your hands off!

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 9:18 am
Did Copper and Hartley try out for the All Blacks? LOL.

By N'put'sdaae, at November 10, 2010 9:26 am
I honestly reckon the best part of this is Hartley standing up feeling fairly smug with himself and then his reaction to Thorne going into him.

By Nick, at November 10, 2010 10:06 am
Von said McCaw is entitled to contest for the ball....

He is but from a standing position on either side - he was on the ground with his hands on the ball - you can't do that.

By Bradders, at November 10, 2010 10:11 am
Bradders said "He is but from a standing position on either side - he was on the ground with his hands on the ball - you can't do that".
Nothing illegal with what with what mccaw did, him and kaino had legally broken up the maul (not sure where the ref got the entering from the side) and mccaw had stripped the ball before any ruck had been formed whilst clearly on his feet, the english player while lying on his back then rips it out of mccaws hands.

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 10:39 am
the ref had an ok game, he cant watch 30 players at once and will miss things.
the citing officer however has this footage and therefore has no excuse for not banning hartley for this cheap shot on mccaws face.

By mat, at November 10, 2010 1:29 pm
"Did you see him hit me?"

Not McCaw's finest hour

By morgan, at November 10, 2010 2:35 pm
got what he deserves

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 3:22 pm
Nothing in this. Anyone who thinks this deserves a punishment is crazy.

Biased kiwis think just because Mealamu carried out a dangerous dog act anyone else who does a minor infringement against them should face the same action.

This was a nothing incident. Harden up boys.

By Chris, at November 10, 2010 4:25 pm
What a bunch of nerds. When you make a pro rugby team, post up your videos.

None of you girls on this website would last a minute in lawnbowls let alone rugby.

Idiots!!

By King Arthur, at November 10, 2010 5:59 pm
A citing for sure. What is interesting though is the response of the teams in this and the Mealamu incident. English barely react, whereas the ABs stick up for their captain.

Quite a good representation of how they play.

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 7:03 pm
wow the one-eyed bullshit that comes out of some people is insane. to say this isnt worth atleast a citing is a load of bull.
typical everyone accuses the all blacks of getting special treatment from the irb, this case clearly proves otherwise, infact this sort of thing has happened during the last 3 tours with all blacks getting bans while the home nations get nothing.

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 8:19 pm
definitely worth a citing and a ban.. both mealamu and Hartley put in cheap shots and even as an englishman i think Hartley should get a ban for this. on another note all those who say "great hit from thorne..... IT'S NOT REALLY IS IT? not really all that difficult to knock over someone who isn't facing you or looking :L however fair shout for doing it

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 9:03 pm
2:14 McCaw playing the ball on the floor! Not whilst he's falling over, whilst he's on the floor. Not saying he deserved it and I think Hartley should be cited. A week or two. But come on "Did you see him hit me" :( Hardly a comment you expect from possibly the best player in the world. I'm English by the way!

By Jimbo, at November 10, 2010 9:10 pm
Couldn't have happened to a cleaner, non-sinning player in Richie ... well done Hartley! Richie was constantly on the wrong side and impeding the English throughout the game.

By NickUK, at November 10, 2010 10:00 pm
@ Anonymous "Thorn is just lucky Lawes didn't get his hands on him. Step back old chap..there's a new enforcer in town."

Lawes tried and Thorn stumbled forward a bit. Then Nonu came in and he dropped nuts. Pussy is the word youre looking for not enforcer (you actually have to stand your ground).

By running rugby, at November 10, 2010 10:35 pm
That was the only time i saw lawes in the entire game. Mr invisible.

By Anonymous, at November 11, 2010 2:24 am
Both incidents are completely reprehensible and both hartley and mealamu should be cited.

The other problem not highlighted enough is the outright cheating of both number 7s. Moody diving on the ball and playing it on the ground and then McCaw trying to rip the ball away even though he's already landed on his ass.
If the referee's didn't let so much of this go, and the rugby culture encourage number 7s to be cheating bastards, none of this retaliation stuff would be necessary.
These incidents are players trying to punish infractions that largely go unnoticed. Players like Moody and McCaw pull off dozens of these a game. It's just the frustration coming out. Address the root cause and maybe we'll get somewhere.

By Anonymous, at November 11, 2010 6:24 am
@ Ben

"Lawes tried and Thorn stumbled forward a bit. Then Nonu came in and he dropped nuts. Pussy is the word youre looking for not enforcer (you actually have to stand your ground)."

That's because Nonu looks like Predator. Just like Tana Umaga used to also.

By Gustav, at November 11, 2010 6:26 am
how has richie done anything wrong there, you people do realise the replays are in slowmo dont you, mccaw is on the ground for less than a second before he is taken out, the reason he couldnt strip the ball outright was beceause the english eight (who is lying flat on his back) refuses to let the ball go.
Take off the blinders people.

By Anonymous, at November 11, 2010 6:37 am
Jimbo said...
2:14 McCaw playing the ball on the floor! Not whilst he's falling over, whilst he's on the floor.
Bradders said...
Von said McCaw is entitled to contest for the ball....

He is but from a standing position on either side - he was on the ground with his hands on the ball - you can't do that.

Well I've watched this again and I say I'm definitely right.

Jimbo, you're watching it out of context. The replay at 2:14doesn't show Off-side Rich's starting position. Watch it again from about 15 secs in: you'll see that Easter has peeled off the maul and is starting a run on his own. McCaw, quick to react as ever, gets Easter to ground and tries to rip the ball. There's no ruck at this point so he's entitled to do so. England #17 (Wilson isn't it?) comes in and knocks McCaw back - this is where the 2:14 replay starts, with McCaw falling backwards. He thinks he's done enough to rip the ball and tries to keep hold of it. Nothing wrong with that. You could even say that Easter should have released it as he's gone to ground.

The ref wasn't really watching any of this though, (clearly), because he'd already blown up for Kaino apparently coming into the ruck from the side - a decision which I really don't understand, by the way.

Anyway, the point is McCaw, as far as I can see, in this case was not doing anything wrong.

By Von, at November 11, 2010 1:12 pm
King Arthur said...
What a bunch of nerds. When you make a pro rugby team, post up your videos.

None of you girls on this website would last a minute in lawnbowls let alone rugby.

Idiots!!

Well said!

By Anonymous, at November 11, 2010 3:53 pm
^^ and yet your on this same sit commenting. think about it numbnuts.

By Anonymous, at November 12, 2010 10:43 am
Funny how the crowd call "off off" when they think McCaw's being spoken to, but when they see what actually happened, Hartley's late forearm to McCaw's face .. silence.

By Stuart, at November 13, 2010 9:43 am
Stuart said "Funny how the crowd call "off off" when they think McCaw's being spoken to, but when they see what actually happened, Hartley's late forearm to McCaw's face .. silence."

Twickenham crowd is always a boorish bunch of middle class w#nkers.

Just like they booed the TMO decision on Gears try even though the screens in the ground didnt show the replay of the try and grouding for that try.

Hartley is douchebag and Lawes, please! any of you calling Lawes the enforcer are a joke, hes a newbie nobody and will disappear as quickly as he arrived.
Andy Ellis wouldnt be scare of Lawes, neither is Mustafa the green grocer.

By Anonymous, at November 18, 2010 11:31 pm
Whos wearing White 17????????

Look at the pansy little push he gives McCaw in the back once the fight breaks out.

WEAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

By Anonymous, at November 18, 2010 11:34 pm