Australian rugby referee Paul Marks has admitted making a crucial blunder but his boss Peter Marshall insists it shouldn’t lead to his Super 14 axing.
Marshall, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) referees’ manager, spoke with Marks yesterday about the controversial no-try decision which seemingly cost the Hurricanes victory and two vital competition points against the Sharks on Saturday.
Super 14 match officials have only been appointed up until round nine this weekend, when Marks will be an assistant referee for the Force-Waratahs match in Perth.
Whether he officiates in rounds 10 and 11 will be decided by Sanzar selectors Glenn Wahlstrom (New Zealand), Wayne Erickson (Australia) and Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa) later this week at their regular meeting after they receive Hamilton-based official Kim Eichmann’s report.
“It’s not just one decision, it’s the overall performance they (selectors) will look at,” Marshall told NZPA today.
“We don’t drop people for one decision.”
Marshall said Marks admitted he should have gone to the television match official (TMO) as the Hurricanes sought the matchwinning try in injury time with the scores locked 13-13.
“He was disappointed he made that decision. He’ll discuss it with the referees coach (former test ref Andrew Cole) but he acknowledges he could have handled it differently,” Marshall said.
“People are being a little bit harsh but I can understand it was a crucial decision.”
Marks ruled a Hurricanes knock-on then called fulltime, when replays showed it was a Sharks hand that touched the ball.
Centre Conrad Smith also appeared to be tackled off the ball, then replacement forward Thomas Waldrom appeared to force the loose ball for a legitimate try.
Marks — one of five Australian referees on the Super 14 panel — caused some earlier controversy when he awarded the Sharks a penalty try from a collapsed maul.
Marks, 33, made his first-class debut in 2003 and controlled his first test last year between Samoa and Fiji.
Said Marshall: “He’s a good up and coming referee who’s progressing very well.”
But Marshall agreed Saturday’s events gave further weight to International Rugby Board (IRB) referees boss Paddy O’Brien’s call for the TMO’s powers to be extended.
At present the rules state he can only be called on if a player is “in the act of scoring a try.”
“Paddy is pushing to take it further into the field of play and it’s certainly got some merit.”
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper was baffled by Marks’ decision not to consult the TMO.
“All I’d say is that you’d ask yourself why you didn’t have a look,” he said.
And New Zealand high performance referee coach Colin Hawke said he was surprised, labelling the decision “unfortunate”.
“Certainly it’s the New Zealand view that if there is any doubt, a referee should go up to the TMO,” Hawke told Radio Sport.
“It looked to me like he made the cardinal error of not taking the time out and just using what aid you have in that situation which was a crunch one.”
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