Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe says rugby union should look at introducing two referees to help sort out problem areas in the game such as scrums and the breakdown.
Sharpe, who is preparing for Saturday’s (Sunday AEDT) clash against Italy in Florence, believes an extra on-field official could help clean the game up.
“I don’t know how you’d do it. I haven’t got the exact answers but it would be great to have someone to look at the intricate parts of the game around breakdowns and scrummaging. The other referee could then monitor the other parts of the game,” he said.
“I just think there’s so much going on in rugby union. There’s so many grey areas … I don’t know where the guys (refs) would stand but I think it would really help the referees out.”
The 34-year-old, who will retire from rugby after the Test against Wales next weekend, has great admiration for officials and what they do.
“I’d hate to be a referee. There’s so much to look at. Tacklers, attacking players and the offside line … there’s so much going on. Maybe two referees could help.”
South Africa’s Lourens van der Merwe will referee the match in Florence in just his third Test and he should be kept busy with the Italians expected to hide the ball in scrums, rucks and mauls.
“We played Italy here two years ago. Whenever they had a scrum feed within our halfway they just left the ball at the No.8’s feet until someone yielded. They try to draw penalties that way,” Sharpe said.
“It’s the same with their mauling. There’s no doubt they’ll come with an attitude there and so we’ve prepared as well as we can for those things.”
Italy are coming off a 42-10 loss to New Zealand in Rome last Saturday with the home side trailing by just 23-10 with 13 minutes remaining before the All Blacks crossed for three late tries.
“I heard a quote from Conrad Smith (All Blacks centre) saying that was the hardest Test New Zealand have played all year. That’s a fair statement and an indication of how tough it’s going to be,” he said.
Meanwhile replacement hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has been withdrawn from the Italy Test with his spot on the bench taken by James Hanson.
Polota-Nau is believed to be nursing a few bruises after the England game.
In other Wallabies news, reserve lock Rob Simmons’s appeal over an eight-week ban he copped against France two weeks ago will be heard in Bristol on Tuesday.
soapit`
Guest
yeah it'd have to be the ref from the attacking teams side of the scrum leaving other guy on the defending teams side still on the touchline ready for the kick. theyd have to stay well clear of the play and get themselves off the field quick smart once the scrum was over. re: too many penalties have been thinking a warning system might work so penalty is only awarded every third infringment but warn them for absolutely everything you see. so the ref calls out thats 1 number 6 in from the side, thats 2 number 5 off your feet and then the third gets a penalty. might be too complicated though.
SandBox
Roar Guru
What you said below has merit. Would a touchie who has moved inside the field be able to give an accurate position if the ball was kicked out? Ref either side of scrum/ruck/maul would reduce infringements but increase penalty stoppages, which we have more than enough of already. How many times do we see infringements right in view of assistant ref not called? I counted three by one player alone in one game. Sure others could find more. Ref system needs improving, and rules need to be more clearly defined
AndyS
Guest
If the assistant refs were genuinely used to monitor offside and the various other open field issues, I could perhaps understand having two on each side. But having two field refs would be problematic - we struggle now to get cosistency from match to match (and sometimes even half to half). What would it be like with inconsistencies end to end?
Jock M
Guest
Get rid of most of the breakdown laws and make a true contest for the ball. Two refs would just about be the last straw.
soapit`
Guest
best plan is to have 1 ref and 4 touch judges. 1 spare touchie to focus on offside on each side of the field and they are responsible for the line of touch on either side of where the last ruck formed. 1 blindside touchie can come on the field a few steps (max say 15m) to get closer to the blind side of the scrum (the one on the attacking teams end while the other is watching the offside line). they can all advise on field ref as assistants as now. but with any change that could result in more penalties we MUST be more willing to use the yellow card otherwise we'll spoil tooooo many games before the knuckle heads learn.
soapit`
Guest
it works ok in league because the ruck is 10m away from the offside line (which requires one ref to mark it out) and additionally posession is very stable (there are few situations where they're not sure which team is the 'attacking' one so there is clear delineation of responsibilities. with rugby both refs would be in each others pockets and would be very hard to get right who was supposed to be watching for what when, ialso its just another official the teams have to avoid.
soapit`
Guest
or the knee jerk responses.
rae1
Guest
Graham Henry mooted this some time ago while he was head coach of the ABs. I don't think he'd have done that if he thought it would negatively impact on the team or individuals in it. Just saying.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
But how will it sort out the scrums? Also NZ will need 2 chirpy half backs then to distract both of them at break downs. This might be disastrous for Richie!!
ThelmaWrites
Guest
I've always admired the adjudication of two refs in field hockey, with one ref for each half. In rugby, with moves to speed the game up and open up options, new rules are constantly being introduced. With two refs in control of two halves of the field, I suggest that the refs would be able to keep up with players better. It may also force the standardisation of the interpretations of scrums, rucks, forward passes, and "double movements", among others. Nothing would be more of a farce than to have two refs having differing interpretations in two halves of the field.
SandBox
Roar Guru
Finally someone high profile is saying this. Touchies as assistant refs hasn't worked. The RL system isn't perfect, but it is more consistent than what we have in RU right now The sooner the better
Neuen
Roar Rookie
You can have 10 referees it still won't sort out the problem. You can not force front rowers into potentially dangerous positions and bindings and expect them to give you a perfect scrum. You also can't test it on junior levels thinking it will work on the highest levels then
GWS
Guest
Oh it's broke alright but more refs? How about less rules ...
chuck
Guest
You have three and T.V.judicator at present what the hell is another one going too do, just get them fit and pension off the ones who fitness level or below the required standard what ever that is,anyone know
Hollywood
Guest
It's been trailed lots if times... No need. If it ain't broke don't fix it -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
The Great G Nepia
Guest
Cor blimey, one union ref running around with a whistle is enough to give me a headache -why would anyone want two of them on the fieild????
Ross
Guest
Absolutely agree with you Sharpie. Rugby Union is in the dinosaur era with a sole referee. So many team sports use multiple referees. AFL, NRL, NFL, basketball, cricket, field hockey, water polo and others I'm sure. Even amateur sports at grass roots level. There are very specific protocols that can be put in place so it is very clear who is making what decision in different areas of the game. Rugby has more players and a more complicated rule/law book than many other sports. It really is asking too much for one person to control with two assistants who cannot enter the field. Especially at the professional level. It won't be double the penalties either. The players are professional and will adapt. They always push the boundaries and get away with as much as they can. A great example is team in possession leaving their feet to secure the breakdown. And the defending team entering from the side when the ref looks around to check the offside. Once the policing gets tightened and more consistent, the players will play to it and the game will flow better than now.
Bruce Lee
Guest
Pour a tonne more money into training referrers at intl level and at all feeder levels. Need better talent identification. Pay intl referees double the money but make them work doubly hard all year with non stop skills training and fitness training. Global referree academies to isentify and train talent It will be money well spent as the end product will b e more consistent and better o watch so more fans.
SkinnyKid
Guest
agree Sheek. . With mic-ed up TJ's there is no reason for people getting away with offside. I am a massive believer in introducing and actual team/personal foul system like basketball...you could really only include defensive penalties (why attacking fouls are penalties rather than free kicks is beyond me anyway) but 3 per player and 10 per team resulting in cards or shots at goal right in front would take many of the cynical penalties out of the game. Only problem is, it would be almost imposable to run at grass-roots level.
sheek
Roar Guru
The last thing rugby needs is 'double the refs, double the penalties'..... ;-)