AUTUMN SERIES:NEW ZEALAND assistant coach Steve Hansen has described the criticism of captain Richie McCaw's work at the breakdown as "boring" after Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris became the latest person to accuse the All Blacks of getting away with illegally slowing down opposition ball.
McCaw (29) has been world rugby’s scavenger supreme at the breakdown since making his debut against Ireland in 2001, with his strong ripping power and ability to rapidly latch on to the ball marking him out as one of the greatest players in his position.
Ferris, who scored Ireland’s first try in last weekend’s 38-18 defeat in Dublin, has argued New Zealand were lucky to keep 15 men on the field as they continually slowed Irish possession during the final quarter, singling out McCaw as a key factor in that process.
But Hansen hit back, saying: “That’s becoming quite boring I think. He is the greatest openside flanker in the game and he probably knows the rules better than the referees. If he makes a tackle and ends up on their side of the tackle, he is allowed to be there and compete for the ball until a ruck is formed.
“A ruck is not formed until two players are bound over the ball so he is not doing anything illegal. Every time he goes to speak to a referee about a penalty, which most of the time he has not given away, a commentator will say ‘there is the ref talking to McCaw again, he should have been yellow-carded’. It’s quite disrespectful, but all it does is make Richie play better, so I can put up with the boredom if it keeps motivating him. It’s just an excuse, really.”
Hansen, a former Wales coach, also believes Warren Gatland’s side will not be lacking in motivation when the teams meet at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. “I am not at all surprised by the criticism Wales have faced,” he said. “I think expectations have risen over the last few years . . . I think the public have every right to be disappointed, as you would expect Wales to beat Fiji. They will be dangerous, anybody that has been put under the spotlight and criticism they have faced will be.”
Scotland make one enforced change to the starting XV to face Samoa in Aberdeen on Saturday. Scott MacLeod is out after injuring his ribs against the Springboks so Richie Vernon returns at number eight and Kelly Brown and Nathan Hines move to blindside flanker and secondrow, respectively.
SCOTLAND(v Samoa, Pittodrie, Saturday): H Southwell; N Walker, J Ansbro, G Morrison, S Lamont; D Parks, R Lawson; A Jacobsen, R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray, N Hines, R Gray, K Brown, R Vernon, J Barclay. Replacements: D Hall, M Low, J Hamilton, R Rennie, M Blair, Ruaridh Jackson, M Evans.
SAMOA: P Williams; D Lemi, G Pisi, S Mapasua, A Tuilagi; T Lavea, K Fotualii; S Taulafo, M Schwalger (capt), C Johnston, F Levi, K Thompson, O Treviranus, M Salavea, G Stowers. Replacements: T Paulo, A Perenise, J Tekori, D Leo, A Aiono, J Poluleuligaga, F Otto.
