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An open letter to Rob Andrew

December 4 2009

Dear Rob, I read with interest your comments on the state of the game and that the laws are ruining the game following the conclusion of England’s November Test matches.

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Comments from RugbyThinker

• Spiro you are right about the Paul tackle. It wasn’t high, late or illegal. If the TMO is available I agree he should be used to review such cases to ensure fairness and consistency. Kearney was guilty of a shoulder charge not on Palu but Elsom and he wasn’teven spoken too. But the big issue here is the damned inconsistency of the referees we have in international rugby at present. I watched five Test matches over the weekend and having played and been involved in Rugby at a senior admin level for many years I am utterly confused. It is fair to say the crop of refs we have at present are poor. Many of them seem more determined to show us their microscopic understanding of the Laws than letting the players play the game. Kaplan ruined the Sydney Bledisloe and was again whistle happy on the weekend. And when will Rugby give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team. The game craves more tries but we are getting whistle happy refs, more penalties and conservative coaches [not prepared to gamble with the finnicky refs] who instruct players to kick. Nigel Owens cost the Pumas a try against England when they were clearly on top and attacking but somehow were penailsed for something that most refs would have let go. Martyn Williams went to tackle an All Black in Cardiff two weeks ago. In the tackle his arm deflected the ball that was being passed. Penalty or accidental……it clearly looked accidental but any doubt and it must be a scrum not a penalty which was kicked. Don’t get me wrong anything clearly illegal or dangerous should be penalised. But we are seeing a rash of yellow cards which I believe is a cop out for referees especially in the 22. Why don’t they award more penalty tries when professional cheating is stopping tries. How on earth did Dickinson not award Italy a try in Milan when its scrum destroyed the All Blacks?
  If the IRB derives income from participation in the Olympics it should be channelled into refereeing – development, coaching and establishment of a fulltime international panel that is managed professionally by one unit so we are not left with referees coming out of Unions with different philospohies and standards. Sorry about cliche but refs should be seen not heard!!!!

  The curious case of Wycliff Palu's yellow card (219)
  November 18th, 2009

• The good news here is that everyone seems agreed that Rugby Sevens is the way to move game forward. Inclusion in the Olympics is a big funding boost to many countries. Governments in countries such as China, Germany, USA, Russia, etc only fund sports in the Olympics. Now Rugby in those countires will benefit and may even get onto school curricula. The thought process has certainly changed from only as far back as 2005 and the Singapore vote when not the entire rugby family thought it was a good idea. It would be good to see ARU take it seriously now. Point taken about NRL players but it would be interesting.

  The solution for all Australian rugby woes (19)
  November 17th, 2009

• Obviously lot of one-eyed AB supporters around today!!!. Of course the ABs do nothing wrong and McCaw is never offside? As I said good luck to him if he doesn’t get caught. ABs deserved win but whistle blowing is stifling game. These issues are not just about Bledisloe Cup matches as most test matches are crap these days cos of pedantic refs who are inconsistent. IRB needs to spend big on refereeing development……present pool is poor and little coming through the ranks.

  Hansen hits back at Deans' breakdown claims (36)
  November 2nd, 2009

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