McCaw and Moore ensure one World Cup final, 3 refs

Nigel Owens will have two of the best assistant referees in his ear in Saturday's fiery World Cup final -- Richie McCaw and Stephen Moore.

The rival New Zealand and Australian captains are renowned for their on-field efforts to sway the ref.

The Test centurions may see the game from different perspectives -- McCaw from the side of the scrum and Moore from the middle of the front-row -- but they never miss a chance to have a word with the ref.

It is an art form McCaw is well practised at as he prepares to lead his side for the 111th time in his 148-Test career.

That is 100 more Tests as skipper than Moore, who learned the subtleties as the Brumbies captain in Super rugby. He proved when the Wallabies beat the All Blacks in August that he can match McCaw.

Moore, may be nicknamed "Squeak", but he makes sure he is heard loud and clear.

When McCaw was pointing out an Israel Folau indiscretion to referee Wayne Barnes, Moore, in only his fourth full Test as skipper, was quick to join in.

"There's plenty of that going on against our side too," he said. As McCaw shook a finger and told him to leave it to the ref, Moore follows up with: "Mate, you can’t have threats like that in here."
- Moore counters McCaw squeak -
It convinced the Wallabies they had a captain who led from the front.

From trailing 6-3 when Moore spoke up, they rallied to win 27-19 and inflicted one of only three defeats the All Blacks have suffered since Steve Hansen became coach after the 2011 World Cup.

Moore said he was not so much trying to neutralise McCaw's influence as exert his own.

"He’s obviously done it a lot more than I have, captained a side in those sort of games.

"It was just sticking up for my teammates and part of the role as captain is to manage the game and get the best outcomes for your team."

McCaw admits to spending a lot of time studying referees and makes a point of meeting them before kick off.

But he disputes suggestions he is able to influence them.

"I wouldn't have thought so. They pride themselves on making sure they call it the same way no matter who it is," he said.

"How do I say it? What I think is right and what he thinks is right could be different so you've got to figure it out pretty quickly.

"Each ref is a little bit different. I have a fairly good understanding of where they'll sit, just through experiences."

Wales coach Warren Gatland noted how Moore expertly handled referee Craig Joubert when the Welsh were desperately trying to reel in a 15-6 deficit in the closing stages of their Pool A decider.

"I thought he was quite comfortable talking to the ref as much as he possibly could to wind down the clock," Gatland said.
"He was pretty smart in the way that he did that. If you are a captain as a hooker you are right there in front of the referee and it gives you a bit of a licence to have a debate with him a little bit more."

Six months before the World Cup, former England and British and Irish Lions fly-half Stuart Barnes predicted McCaw would lead the All Blacks into the final.

Barnes, now a rugby writer for The Times newspaper, argued that the three-time world player of the year was held in awe by everyone, including referees.

"The senior figure when McCaw takes the field is rarely the referee," Barnes said, urging refs to stop calling McCaw "Richie" when they did not show such familiarity to the rival captain.

"This 'first among equals' treatment gives him an advantage he readily exploits despite rarely needing it."

Barnes also suggested Owens should referee a final involving the All Blacks because he was capable of eliminating the McCaw factor.

"Otherwise that black aura can envelope referees and a global cacophony of commentators will be reiterating those words, 'if it's not Richie, what would have happened'?"

Source: AFP