Wow, easy there Tiger. No need to take it personal...I'll try to explain slowly more in detail so you can understand (reading comprehension doesn't seem to be your strongest point) and avoid going all frothing at the mouth...First, what I'd like you to understand is that I am not undermining the greatness of Richie Mc Caw, aka God aka the only thing of value in NZ. Ok now?
Refs interpretation: there is no question that refs are more lenient in the SH, allow more at the breakdown in order to have a more free flowing game. Why do you think we have "scores divisible by three" in the NH, and you don't. I'll give you a hint, it's not because you guys don't infringe.
Playing in the Crusaders and the AB; if you don't think it's easier to shine, and express your best potential when you play in some of the best teams in the world, there's nothing I can do for you. Get Mc Caw playing in a crap russian team, I'll guarantee you he won't be that flash if all the guys around him are crap. Rugby is not like soccer where one guy can dribble the entire opposition and score a goal, is it. If your entire team is on the back foot, you're getting beaten on the gain line etc, you become anonymous. Ask any player after a game and they'll tell you the same things: backs will thank the forwards for getting good clean ball, forwards will thank the backs for putting points on the board etc...You don't think Mc Caw benefits from having one of the best tight five/back line in the S14 and in the world?
Hence why I said he would be good, not great, although you probably didn't see that because you must have been fuming already that someone could have the gall to question Richie Mc Caw aka God aka etc...
Some players have a profile better suited to the North, some to the South. I believe McCaw is better suited to the South. Not to say he would be bad in the NH. I think he'd be good, but notably less than in the NH.
FInally, when I said that McCaw probably reached the same conclusions, I meant that:
his image is perfect. He's arguably the best ever openside flanker ever. He's hugely respected in NZ.
Why would he quit all that to go in Europe, play in a team and in a comp where he potentially couldn't express his talent to the max, and have his image go down both in the NH (he's not that good afterall) and in the SH (he left for the money in the end)? Plus leaving his country, his mates etc...
That doesn't make sense, moreover considering that he will probably make lots of cash even in NZ.
PS: you can go **** yourself too...:lol:
