ALL Blacks captain Richie McCaw is often accused of beating the Wallabies by living offside - and now there's graphic evidence to prove it.
Damning Fox Sports footage confirms McCaw's status as a serial offender with a shopping list of illegal plays to help
scuttle the Wallabies 22-16 at Eden Park in Auckland last month.
Analysis of that Test shows McCaw failing to join the ruck from behind the last man's feet at least seven times and contesting kicks while offside on at least three occasions.
Despite being captured flagrantly entering the side of rucks and chasing in front of kickers, flanker McCaw proved "Mr Untouchable" by escaping without a single offside penalty.
South African referee Craig Joubert appeared to miss all of these.
The Wallabies yesterday refused to comment on McCaw's murky tactics, but the offside law will be policed with fresh vigilance in Saturday's key Bledisloe Cup Test at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
An International Rugby Board edict to referees has called for a crackdown on offside players contesting or interfering with high kicks.
Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer yesterday called on Australian coach Robbie Deans to put McCaw's offside habits on the radar of South African referee Jonathan Kaplan in a pre-Test meeting.
"Richie does get away with a fair bit," Dwyer said.
"He tries to make it look as though he's come through the gate but he hasn't really.
"The entry point for his hands and arms is often from the side of the ruck and then he swings his bum around.
"He comes straight in from the side heaps of times and I've even seen him come in from in front of the ball to block the opposition."
Dwyer said McCaw could also be whistled for his habit of obstructing defenders by running on their line to the breakdown.
When asked if McCaw was an illegal player or simply a smart one, Deans said: "If you get away with it, you're a smart player but I don't want to go there.
"I'm not concerned about history, just Saturday night."
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said McCaw's work at the breakdown was no different to the world's other premier No. 7s.
It is his ability to sweet-talk referees that sets the Kiwi apart, Jones said.
"McCaw is an outstanding flanker who plays the laws to the edge like George Smith, Schalk Burger, Phil Waugh and Heinrich Brussow," Jones said.
"McCaw's point of difference, like Sean Fitzpatrick once had, is that he is an outstanding captain.
"He develops a good rapport with refs so refs respond well. Smart!"
