If the first five Rugby World Cup games prove to be the criteria, referees and goal-kickers will decide the champion nation. So far there have been 104 penalties dished out, averaging 21 a game.
New Zealand’s Bryce Lawrence has been the major offender with 27 penalties, Australian Steve Walsh and Englishman David Pearson with 22, Ireland’s George Clancy 19, and Welshman Nigel Owens with 14.
Much more palatable in three NRL play-off games with just 30 penalties, or 10 a game, which makes a huge difference to the flow.
That’s an indictment on the International Rugby Board for not jumping all over whistle-happy refs who are penalty driven.
The show-ponies who believe they are number one on the field, and not where they should be at 31.
There’s a valid reason for the refs’ thinking. Kiwi Paddy O’Brien is the IRB’s referee boss, a true-blue show-pony whistler in his heyday.
Not on.
Long-standing colleague Spiro Zavos wrote an accurate Roar piece after the Cup opener between the All Blacks and Tonga.
In it Spiro accused referee Clancy of ruining the game, and requesting O’Brien explain why he was chosen for such an important clash instead of a more experienced ref.
Subsequently Spiro was been unfairly taken to task by some Roarers, and in the street, for having the “audacity” to criticise Clancy.
A timely reminder referees are a protected species. Rarely are they dropped despite their obvious shortcomings. Jonathan Kaplan, the show pony of all show ponies, is an exception, copping a holiday after he stuffed up the Brumbies-Melbourne Super XV clash this season.
But traditionalists, by their very nature, will always support the referee irrespective of how he controls a game.
Which of course is bollocks. Bad reffing can be criticised in exactly the same way as playing and coaching (and even sportswriting).
When you’re wrong, you are wrong – it’s as simple as that.
Which opens up another area of interest.
With penalties to play such a huge role in the outcome of World Cup 2011, even the sharp-shooters haven’t fired.
The world’s second-highest points-scorer – England’s Jonny Wilkinson – landed just three from eight (37 percent) against Argentina in a display that almost cost England the game.
Argentina’s Martin Rodrigues did cost his team with only two from seven (29 percent), in a 13-9 scoreline.
The world’s leading point-scorer – All Black Dan Carter – could only manage four from six (67 percent) against Tonga.
Scotland’s leading point-scorer Chris Paterson five from nine (55 percent) against against Romania.
But Fijian Seremaia Bai (eight of nine – 89 percent), and France’s Dimitri Yachvili (seven of nine – 78 percent) were more in keeping with what’s required.
Let’s see how Quade Cooper and/or Kurtley Beale, fare for the Wallabies this afternoon against Italy.
The final stat.
There have been 72 Rugby World Cup shots at goal for 43 scores (59 percent).
In the NRL – 24 successful shots from 30 attempts (80 percent).
Which simply means any Rugby World Cup goal-kicker who can match the league kickers, will probably be on the winning side.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Especially in windy conditions and a field with (relatively) short uprights!
mitzter
Guest
He had probably the worst game reffing after whoever reffed the aussie-italy match (especially the first half)
mitzter
Guest
Yeah when you're moving all over the place it is difficult to judge those tight calls accurately. I have noticed all the weird positions the touchies have been standing at for the kicks. Don't understand - stand at the base!!
Happy Hooker
Guest
Well there you go Chris, it got through that time.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Get this clown (Lord) off this website. The guy must be nigh on 80 anyway. So, the refs are supposed to put the whistle in the pocket, and just let illegalities go in the tackle, with the result that the ball gets slowed down or worse. Yeah right, that's a real recipe for running rugby!
Jock M
Guest
Nick, what i saw yesterday was the same old same old. I played Rugby up until 1982.What we have now is not the game that I played. I expect that you might say 'move on' but why should I accept what has happened to Rugby when sports such as Test Cricket,Soccer,Tennis,AFL and Golf have barely changed in that time. Please do not confuse higher standards of play and better technology with wholesale law changes which is what has happened to Rugby. I am thankful that the money men did not get hold of the game whilst I was playing. The best Rugby I ever saw was played in the early to mid nineties.
Nick_KIA
Guest
! I saw plenty of mauls, counter rucking, turnovers from contested tackles (including penalties due to hanging on or not releasing) on the weekend. Perhaps you were watching NRL and thinking it was the RWC?
MR
Guest
David, the comments above are spot on, perhaps you would like to re-examine your views? Do you honestly think that another ref, eg your favorite Queensland ref (mr pedantic), would be refing any different? Lawrence had an average game but problem was not the number of penalties / cards but communication. I thought Rowland was excellent in Aus Italy as told players (& demonstrated what he meant at start of game) exactly what he would focus on
Dublin Dave
Guest
You're so right Mella. Rolland was AWFUL. He missed a forward pass on at least two occasions in the runup to Australian tries which had a major effect on the Italy-Australia game. Changed the whole course of the game. Send him home now and order the match replayed. Harrumph! What, you don't think this post is any more one-eyed, contentious and let's face it downright ridiculous than some of the other rants here?
Mella
Roar Rookie
What was awful about it? I'd really like to know. The last few games I've seen Barnes ref I think he is the best of the lot. Alain Roland was painful in the first half of Australia-Italy. I was watching in a bar in China with various expats who just switched off from the game when it all became about the ref.
Yikes
Guest
Perhaps - but that's not to say that the match couldn't have been even better if Barnes had actually refereed the breakdown.
Yikes
Guest
2009. He moved to Australia and now referees on behalf of the ARU.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
That's where he ended up. He actually came from the other post so was not in that position at the critical time. The assistant referee for that post was well back. Comment stands, he had to guess. We'll never know for sure but had he been where I said he should have been from the start, his waving away would have held more credibility.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I thought it was a little ironic that another awful reffing performance from Barnes resulted in the best game of the weekend.
Jerry
Guest
What are you on about? He was directly (about half a metre) behind the post the ball went past - it's the perfect position to make that call. From that position, you can see what side of the post the ball is on as it goes past.
Colin N
Guest
"What about the not straight into the scrum penalty? That was just plain pedantic." It wasn't pedantic, it was inconsistent. It's one of those frustrating laws. Probably every scrum feed in this World Cup won't be straight, but the referee will only penalise the odd one. Certainly the one Burgess put in was not straight but one after that was just as worse and Rolland chose not to penalise it.
Ash
Guest
What about the not straight into the scrum penalty? That was just plain pedantic. Paddy has a lot of work to do. Will he be consistent and call referees out to the press or does only happen when kiwi teams are involved? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
OldManEmu
Guest
When did Steve Walsh become an Aussie? A mistake Mr Lord? What is your sanction for such ineptitude? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Eric
Guest
I didn't see too much to complain about, but I thought Alain Roland was hard on diving in, going off feet, particularly on Vickerman, but Barnes virtually ignored that rule in the Taffy/Saffa game. And scrum penalties are a lottery.
redxabi
Guest
Comparing a playoff game to the 1st round of pool stages at RWC is just ridiculous besides does snyone outside of OZ really care about RL. Minnows will have to bend the laws to the Max to keep themsleves in the game otherwise we may as well just play sevens. When the knock out rounds start we will see a more appropriate and balance penalty count.