But, in a perverse sort of way, there is some pleasure in being accused of this crime.
When Counties-Manukau took the Ranfurly Shield off Hawkes Bay just over a week ago, it was reported that a couple of the crests on the shield were attached to the shield with Blu-Tack.
That sticky stuff on the most prized trophy in domestic rugby?
Oh, the shame of it.
Hawkes Bay was in the frame for the crime against the Log o' Wood but the union said it was the shield was like that when it got it from Otago.
Though it did not want to blame Otago, the Magpie men said they had looked after the shield carefully for its six-day stay in the region.
So the focus shifted south to the blue and golds.
Were they the Blu-Tack bandits?
They say ''No way, Jose.''
Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said yesterday the shield was looked after during its nine-day stay in Otago.
It travelled all round the province but was kept in good condition. In fact, when Otago took it to the engravers to get its name on the shield, the union also got a bit of repair work done.
The last time Kinley saw the Log o' Wood before the defence against Hawkes Bay, it was in tip-top condition.
Tales of sticky stuff and loose crests were news to him.
Whoever did it - and when, why and what - are surely just sidelines.
The shield survives, and it is the trophy for the people, so the odd bang and loose nail has to be expected.
And Blu-Tack is a modern device, suitable for all occasions.
The nail of the 21st century, surely.
For both Otago and Hawkes Bay, the huge thrill of grabbing the trophy after all these years overshadows the odd ding and loose crest.
Otago last held the shield in 1957, before it won it off Waikato last month.
And Hawkes Bay had not held it since 1969, before its successful victory over Otago.
Counties-Manukau defends the shield against Waikato this Saturday.
Blu-dunnit? Counties-Manukau fullback Sherwin Stowers shows off the Ranfurly Shield.
Just above his right hand is where patches of Blu-Tack were used to stick on crests.
