Bending the laws has been around forever.
Everyone has always done what they can to get an advantage in the heat of the moment.
The difference here was that it was completely pre-meditated.
They had a blood capsule handy in case the situation arose.
Who knows what other nefarious ideas they had for other scenarios.
I was always happy to justify breaking the laws when I played prop.
Personally though, I felt that Bloodgate was a whole different level cheating and I feel that Dean Richards got off lightly..... although he's unlikely to ever be genuinely considered for the England job now.