Waugh adds fuel to fire over McCaw tactics

Richie McCaw (left) and Phil Waugh

SYDNEY - New South Wales Waratahs flanker Phil Waugh has stoked the fires surrounding Crusaders rival Richie McCaw's play at the breakdown in the lead-up to their Super 14 clash in Christchurch tomorrow night.

Waugh, who replaces Stephen Hoiles in the Waratahs' starting side, has re-ignited a row that has blazed all week over McCaw's tactics at the breakdown.

A frustrated Hurricanes prop, Neemia Tialata, grabbed him by the throat in their clash last weekend, while test teammate Jerry Collins hurled the ball at his head. The Hurricanes later suggested McCaw should have been sin-binned.

"You watch him play and he does get away with a lot of things that other players probably wouldn't at the tackle area," Waugh told Sydney's Daily Telegraph, which headlined its story: "McCaw gets away with murder."

"He's got a history of that and a history of getting away with it. Waugh said. "He got picked up a fair bit last week. But I was still surprised he got away with as much as he did."

Waugh outlined the McCaw tactic: "He makes the tackle, lies on the tackled player, and he's allowed to get away with it.

"We'll be doing everything we can to clear him out of that area when he does make a tackle so he won't have the opportunity to slow the ball down.

"[Then there's] diving in on the ball, getting his hands on the ball and then getting back on his feet. That's clearly ... killing the ball."

However, Waugh also let his admiration for McCaw show. "In our position, you certainly push close to the edge to steal the ball or slow it down," he said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Ellis is again keeping All Blacks halfback Kevin Senio on the bench for the match.

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has retained his starting XV that beat the Hurricanes 20-11 last Saturday.

Ellis, 22, who capped a fine all-round game with a try against the Hurricanes, has been rewarded with the No 9 jersey again.

"We got a great start out of this group and that will be important again," Deans said. "However, with only six days since the clash against the Hurricanes, we may have to go to the bench more on Friday night."

Blindside flanker Reuben Thorne will become the most capped Crusader tomorrow, playing his 106th game for the franchise and overtaking Justin Marshall's record of 105 appearances.

The Waratahs lead the points table with 32 points from eight matches. The unbeaten Crusaders are just one point behind and have a match in hand.

CRUSADERS V WARATAHS

* Jade Stadium, 7.35pm tomorrow

Crusaders

Leon MacDonald
Rico Gear
Caleb Ralph
Aaron Mauger
Scott Hamilton
Daniel Carter
Andrew Ellis
Mose Tuiali'i
Richard McCaw (c)
Reuben Thorne
Ross Filipo
Chris Jack
C Johnstone
Corey Flynn
Greg Somerville

Waratahs

Peter Hewat
Wendell Sailor
Morgan Turinui
Shaun Berne
Lote Tuqiri
Daniel Halangahu
Chris Whitaker (c)
David Lyons
Phil Waugh
Wycliff Palu
Daniel Vickerman
Alex Kanaar
Al Baxter
Adam Freier
Matt Dunning

Reserves:

Crusaders: Tone Kopelani, Wyatt Crockett, Brad Mika, Johnny Leo'o, Kevin Senio, Cameron McIntyre, Casey Laulala.

Waratahs: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Rocky Elsom, Stephen Hoiles, Brett Sheehan, Sam Norton-Knight, Ben Jacobs, Will Caldwell.

- NZPA