RWC refs

[BaldiePete]

Terrible performance from Carley this evening. Earlier, Gardner, two assistant referees and and a TMO all managed to miss a head on head by Kriel on Dempsey in the Scotland v Boks match.

https://x.com/andymcgeady/status/170090 ... 50jNBQ3TAA

[Mellsblue]

Wales conceded thirteen penalties in their own half. Got to be a fair few in there that they could have slotted if they felt confident.

How many of those were when Fiji were two or three tries behind on the scoreboard?

No idea but comparably would have Wales chanced it quite so much if they thought Fiji had a reliable kicker who would knock three over every time they transgressed.

Exactly. We’ve no idea what effect it had without watching what happened once Lomani went off and we learn to read minds, and I still think it ranks below repeatedly losing ball in contact, being terrible in the 15/20 mins after halftime and Carley bottling it.

[16th man]

Totally bizarre refereeing performance and it must be very confusing for people watching who don't follow the game closely (especially as the ITV coverage is woeful)

This is the big issue for me. This should be the advert for the game, and that match in particular had everything you would want to show people about why this is a sport to be loved, but... if you're watching without the benefit of a friend who watches a lot of rugby, you're bemused as to how so many similar looking offences can result in drastically different sanctions, especially when it obviously affects the result, and if you do have someone who does know more to ask, them shrugging their shoulder and not being able to explain, effectively having to admit refs can have an immense level of influence on the outcome, doesn't exactly have you coming back for more.

[Spiffy]

Pretty poor reffing overall this weekend. But a couple of nice little touches of old fashioned sportsmanship when Australian and Fijian forwards just voluntarily fessed up to the ref that they had dropped the ball in trying to score, removing the need for all the tedious TMO stuff. Good lads.

[Lizard]

I ref my son’s u11 team, and my boy (plays scrum half, tenaciously) went over the line from the base of a ruck, with about three guys on his back. There was no way I could see grounding. The oppo claimed he lost it. I asked him, and he admitted he had dropped it. I was simultaneously very proud of his honesty and sportsmanship, but also very concerned about his suitability to play scrum half given those qualities.

[Danno]

I ref my son’s u11 team, and my boy (plays scrum half, tenaciously) went over the line from the base of a ruck, with about three guys on his back. There was no way I could see grounding. The oppo claimed he lost it. I asked him, and he admitted he had dropped it. I was simultaneously very proud of his honesty and sportsmanship, but also very concerned about his suitability to play scrum half given those qualities.

Concerned?? You should be transporting him to Johannesburg post-haste

[Donny osmond]

https://x.com/optajonny/status/17009808 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

These stats speak for themselves (p.s. is that a record number of tackles for any team in history?) and evidence the level of intervention needed for Wales to achieve a win.

At the best case it is bias based on a preconceived ideas and at worst it is more sinister...

Mate, you've made a hell of a leap there.


I think it's just shit refereeing.

[Mr Mwenda]

Early in that set it looked very much like Biggar made head contact as a secondary tackler. I'm amazed that wasn't reviewed.

That was the one I saw. It did make me wonder if Islander heads are apparently seen as less important.

[Mr Mwenda]

Totally bizarre refereeing performance and it must be very confusing for people watching who don't follow the game closely (especially as the ITV coverage is woeful)

This is the big issue for me. This should be the advert for the game, and that match in particular had everything you would want to show people about why this is a sport to be loved, but... if you're watching without the benefit of a friend who watches a lot of rugby, you're bemused as to how so many similar looking offences can result in drastically different sanctions, especially when it obviously affects the result, and if you do have someone who does know more to ask, them shrugging their shoulder and not being able to explain, effectively having to admit refs can have an immense level of influence on the outcome, doesn't exactly have you coming back for more.

I am personally finding these moments are taking me out of the game. I found I wasn't focusing and turned yesterday's match off. It's a pity because both teams were playing some good stuff. Increasing age is part of it (late kick offs don't help) but I am finding the bizarreness of so many ref decisions too distracting. Reflecting, I really don't understand the video ref any more - in some games they won't shut up. In others they appear not to be watching the game.

[Mellsblue]

Early in that set it looked very much like Biggar made head contact as a secondary tackler. I'm amazed that wasn't reviewed.

That was the one I saw. It did make me wonder if Islander heads are apparently seen as less important.

You’re aware that there were four almost identical incidents like this that were missed yesterday and only this one included an Islander?

[Mr Mwenda]

That was the one I saw. It did make me wonder if Islander heads are apparently seen as less important.

You’re aware that there were four almost identical incidents like this that were missed yesterday and only this one included an Islander?

Ha, you're no doubt right. Although there were probably more than four. Just because it made me wonder doesn't mean I drew a conclusion.

My thought train was set in motion by the England game where the Swedish commentator accused Tuilagi of a no arms tackle seemingly without any reason. It made me think that it was a mistake based in a perceived reputation if a player. Then the incident that was pictured was followed by a very quick call for a minor seatbelt tackle against Fiji. I guess I wonder if the narratives around Pacific players lead to bias.

It would be an interesting and complicated study. I can modestly admit that it'd need more work than just me pondering after a heavy meal with too much cheese.

[Mellsblue]

That was the one I saw. It did make me wonder if Islander heads are apparently seen as less important.

You’re aware that there were four almost identical incidents like this that were missed yesterday and only this one included an Islander?

Ha, you're no doubt right. Although there were probably more than four. Just because it made me wonder doesn't mean I drew a conclusion.

My thought train was set in motion by the England game where the Swedish commentator accused Tuilagi of a no arms tackle seemingly without any reason. It made me think that it was a mistake based in a perceived reputation if a player. Then the incident that was pictured was followed by a very quick call for a minor seatbelt tackle against Fiji. I guess I wonder if the narratives around Pacific players lead to bias.

It would be an interesting and complicated study. I can modestly admit that it'd need more work than just me pondering after a heavy meal with too much cheese.

Case dismissed. This absolves the accused of blame in approx. 95% of crimes.

[bruce]

I see no outcry with the Fiji 9 who was pulling Gareth Davies about when play was stopped following contact to the head. As it happens there was minimal contact but enough for HIA which he passed. Fiji wasn't to know that though, could have been very dangerous.

Reffing was poor across the board with Wales getting more of the rub of the green. It happens.

[Banquo]

think the biggest issue that caused Fiji’s loss was knocking on in contact and a terrible few mins straight after halftime. Not that Carley covered himself in glory in the second half.

Fiji also wasted a lot of their own time faffing around whether to have scrums or taps, and the scrums themselves used up a load of time. Control the controllables and all that. And as you said they lost the ball a lot, and frankly Radrada should have scored anyway.

(But Carley....)

[Mellsblue]

think the biggest issue that caused Fiji’s loss was knocking on in contact and a terrible few mins straight after halftime. Not that Carley covered himself in glory in the second half.

frankly Radrada

Always thought his first name was Semi.

[Mellsblue]

Interesting point from Hartley:

https://x.com/dylanhartley/status/17009 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

Compare and contrast with Carley asking Morgan to tell Biggar et al to shut up. Perhaps being a gobby idiot does help your team, which is completely the wrong message to send.

[oldbackrow]

I see no outcry with the Fiji 9 who was pulling Gareth Davies about when play was stopped following contact to the head. As it happens there was minimal contact but enough for HIA which he passed. Fiji wasn't to know that though, could have been very dangerous.

Reffing was poor across the board with Wales getting more of the rub of the green. It happens.

Interesting that when no card was forthcoming for the Fijian Davies pushed off the medic jumped up like a spring chicken!

[Puja]

I see no outcry with the Fiji 9 who was pulling Gareth Davies about when play was stopped following contact to the head. As it happens there was minimal contact but enough for HIA which he passed. Fiji wasn't to know that though, could have been very dangerous.

Reffing was poor across the board with Wales getting more of the rub of the green. It happens.

Interesting that when no card was forthcoming for the Fijian Davies pushed off the medic jumped up like a spring chicken!

Regardless of whether he was faking or not, it's not something that we want to encourage. It'll end up with players hauling about someone who is genuinely hurt and causing a massive problem.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Or just don’t fake in the first place.

[Scrumhead]

Interesting point from Hartley:

https://x.com/dylanhartley/status/17009 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

Compare and contrast with Carley asking Morgan to tell Biggar et al to shut up. Perhaps being a gobby idiot does help your team, which is completely the wrong message to send.

Hasn’t helped us with Farrell …

[Puja]

Or just don’t fake in the first place.

Would be ideal, but players are not doctors and it'll only take one, "Get up, you're not fooling anyone," to someone with an actual spinal injury for there to be problems.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Or just don’t fake in the first place.

Would be ideal, but players are not doctors and it'll only take one, "Get up, you're not fooling anyone," to someone with an actual spinal injury for there to be problems.

Puja

I feel like this is targeting the bloke who throws the retaliatory punch rather than the knob who had the sly little dig in the first place.

[oldbackrow]

Regardless of whether he was faking or not, it's not something that we want to encourage. It'll end up with players hauling about someone who is genuinely hurt and causing a massive problem.

Puja

Oh quote agree. Have a sizeable bend in my forearm as the idiot who had stamped on it didn't believe it was broken!

[Sourdust]

Regardless of whether he was faking or not, it's not something that we want to encourage. It'll end up with players hauling about someone who is genuinely hurt and causing a massive problem.

Puja

Davies milking it was embarrassing, but irrelevant. That's a 75% YC and a 100% YC in the space of 5 seconds, neither of which was awarded by the referee who was so biased in Wales' favour that he only penalized them 17 times.

If Davies wanted to make sure the incident wasn't missed, he could have signaled to the medics for an HIA without the soccer diva bollocks. Have a word, Warren.

[p/d]

Warren needs to get the flashing light system on board