Richie McCaw video: New Zealand captain in the clear and will play in Rugby World Cup final as he didn't elbow South Africa's Francois Louw
McCaw's incident with Louw went unsighted during the game but video replays showed he made contact with the South African's head
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Your support makes all the difference.Twitter was sent into a spin with the news that Richie McCaw could miss the Rugby World Cup final after video footage appeared to show him elbowing South Africa flanker Francois Louw in the head during the All Blacks’ 20-18 semi-final victory on Saturday.
Only there was no elbow.
With the same footage slowed down and zoomed in, eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the collision is between McCaw’s hip and Louw’s shoulder. Despite the initial footage appearing to show Louw being hit on the head, McCaw’s elbow has passed Louw when the contact is actually made.
Watch the incident below…
Louw was forced off the field later in the first half with blood coming from his head. However, it is not believed that the clash with McCaw was the cause of the cut.
Had McCaw been cited for an elbow, he would have been at risk of missing the World Cup final against either Argentina or Australia next week. The smallest of bans would have ruled him out of the match, although the judicial officer could have ruled that the incident warranted a yellow card at the time and McCaw would receive a warning rather than a ban.
The flanker’s good behaviour and track record would also rule in his favour, but it is unlikely that World Rugby decide that further action is necessary.
The match itself at Twickenham was hardly a classic, but the result still went down to the last second as the All Blacks’ squeezed past their southern hemisphere rivals to give themselves s hot at retaining the wold crown they won in 2011.
Tries from Jerome Kaino and Beauden Barrett as well as 10 points from the boot of Dan Carter proved too much for the Springboks, who could only must five penalties from fly-half Handre Pollard and one from his replacement Pat Lambie.
However, another talking point from the match was Carter’s conversion attempt after Kaino’s try. The stand-off missed his initial attempt, but was allowed to retake it after referee Jerome Garces ruled that South African wing Bryan Habana had started his charge down too early. Replays suggested it was a close call.
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