As a fan (of the Lions and England), I find my enjoyment of rugby union is being adversely affected by seemingly random refereeing decisions that could and sometimes do affect results.
I have never refereed a game of rugby in my life, so I can only imagine how hard the task is, especially in an epic Test match such as we saw on Saturday between the Wallabies and Lions.
However, these referees are professionals and as such they need to be performing at a higher level than many currently are.
Sure they will make mistakes, they aren’t robots, but provided they don’t impact the overall result of the game then that isn’t an issue.
Thankfully for Lions fans across the globe, Chris Pollock’s guesswork at the final scrum didn’t cost the Lions the game. I have watched the scrum a few times now, and although Mr Pollock would have had a much better view than any I have seen, I cannot see what the penalty was awarded for.
Clearly the scrum was a mess – and he needed to take some action – but when you are not sure, don’t guess and award the penalty. A better decision would have been to re-set the scrum.
In the past a free kick was an available action for refs, a real shame that is no longer available.
Poetic justice was served (I am sure Kurtley Beale won’t feel that way) when the kick failed to go over and the final whistle blew.
Looking at it in terms of behavioural logic, the decision still makes no sense. Why would the Lions offend in that situation, unless forced to do so? Perhaps they were forced to do so by superior scrimmaging from the Wallabies, but that seems unlikely.
A more logical approach, if they were being forced by the Wallabies, would have been to ease the pressure and let the Australians get more of a nudge on to release the ball their way. Not to collapse.
Clearly that is very oversimplified, and there are many more intricacies I have not considered, but you see my point?
I don’t mean to single out Mr Pollock, as he is by no means the only one of his peers to be guilty of guessing, or refereeing by numbers.
The IRB, seemingly on a weekly basis, change the rules/regulations on scrums, with the aim of eliminating ambiguity and promoting player safety. Very noble ambitions, shame they have come nowhere near being realised.
One suggestion has been to move to uncontested scrums. Very extreme and something that would ruin rugby – we might as well merge with rugby league if that happens.
That said, the ongoing situation needs to be looked at (again). I do not profess to have the answer, but surely improvements to the refereeing of this vital part of the game are possible.
Could the elite panel spend some time with some of the bright members of the front row union who are still involved in the game (Ewan McKenzie, Graham Rowntree etc.) to better understand the mechanics and therefore interpret the situation better? Couldn’t hurt.
The thing that irks me most about the guesswork that seems to be going on is that it flies directly in the face of what should be the mantra of every referee – the players decide the outcome of the game, not the referee.
With 20 seconds left and two points in it, don’t make a call that could change the outcome unless you are absolutely 100% sure you are right.
No doubt Chris Pollock would say he was sure, as I would in his shoes, but had the kick gone over – and the press outside Australia been all over him – would he be quite so sure? Unlikely.
Mudfish
Roar Rookie
Manalien, yes your article seems to have hit some raw nerves, unfortunately not too much constructive debate has resulted, more of 'go away you don't know what you're talking about'. IMO there has to be changes to the scrum laws, it has become a platform not to restart the game but a place to win penalties, Brian Moore posted a good article on the modern scrum, worth a read: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21952652 I thought the Wallabies played well and could've easily won if the kickers had their shooting boots on, injuries cost shape, scrum more than held their own, Genia obviously was brilliant, I thought Ben Mowen had a great game, Hooper too. I also think pro Referees have become superstars in their own right, e.g. Steve Walsh, Joubert et al and that IMO is wrong, we don't pay our money to watch the Ref, we go to see the great game of rugby, they are simply adjudicators, charged with applying the rules of the game fairly and equally to both teams. 2nd Test Melbourne - bring it on!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
That's very true Eric. I think it's more out of frustration and exasperation that I have, sort of, given up trying to understand every ref decision.
arbitro storico
Guest
...then we can change the name and call it rugby league.
manalien
Roar Pro
Seems like my article has provoked some lively debate, and in some cases (many) vitriol. Which is a neat parallel for the issues facing the IRB. What someone deems to be a penalty others do not. In a game as even as the one at the weekend, having a penalty count as one sided as it was and one team complaining that they were unable to compete at the breakdown, while at the same time the other could use, different, illegal tactics is a clear example of a poor game by the referee. Perhaps the Lions should have adapted to the referee at the breakdown better. But in this day and age why is that necessary? The IRB need to help the refs out and make things more simple.
EricS
Guest
There's a point that you may have missed. When I watch a scrum, and see the ref award a penalty, I feel a need to understand why the ref made the award. Yes, he's well qualified, and unbiased, and honest (I refereed for a couple of years after I retired from playing 40 years ago). But it makes for better enjoyment if the spectator says to himself "yes, they went early, the ref got it right".
Objective
Guest
Blah, blah, blah. Here we go again. Probably the most demonstrably ignorant, ill-informed piece ever to grace The Roar. Beautifully summed up by Yikes. Also good to see some sense from Arbitro Storico, NOS, jrod, et al. "They need to be better". Gee, thanks, oh enlightened one. Go away, do some research, talk to some current stakeholders in the game, and, God forbid, have a go at refereeing a game. Then write Part 2. And while you're at it, how about acknowledging that the Wallaby scrum was on a par, or better, than the best of the 4 home nations. Finding that a bit hard to deal with are we ?? That's right - the scrum that got smashed at the end. Just imagine the orgasmic cries from the UK if it was reversed. Of course it was a legitimate penalty. And as for Brian "don't you know who I am" O'Driscoll, you've actually got to be on your feet and supporting your own body weight for the whole of the contest, not just at the end. Just imagine if the Lions had lost !!
Sylvester
Guest
The media/Lions management outrage at the refereeing was unsurprising on the evidence of the northern refs' breakdown interpretation in the ABs/France series - ie anything goes. In SXV, refs have been told to penalise slowing tactics, something the Lions players clearly weren't used to.
Jokerman
Guest
1-7 in the penalty count when they are up 20-12, is an unlikely occurrence, when you have a more dominant forward pack, and a better first five. They just had to play it cool and grind out the win in a conservative manner. But the ref change things with his single focus. around 4 of those penalty's were debatable. Awesome match though, the ref just appeared biased near then end. A bit like Horwal being cleared of foul play. Everyone knows it was foul. On the positive Australia played sublime football.
DMac
Guest
I don't think there's much logic in claiming that a 7-1 penalty count necessarily indicates poor refereeing. That last 20 minutes was when the wallabies were making all the play in an attempt to come back. You would expect them to get the lions share. You would really need to go through the 7 penalties and analyse whether they were legit. I haven't seen anyone bother to do that yet. I don't personally recall any I thought were questionable, but I'm as biased as anyone....
BargeArse
Guest
+1
BargeArse
Guest
What about the disgraceful TMO decision to allow the Cuthbert try? No mention of that then? JOC shoiuldve gone down like a sack of spuds when BOD ran into and impeded him, but to his (JOC) credit, he is not a soccer player. Lions very lucky that they won that test. Very lucky and they know it.
Simoc
Guest
So the writer doesn't know the rules or refereeing but criticises a decision because he couldn't see what it was for. Der. This guy is definetly an inexperienced slow prop forward with no idea about scrums , mauls etc so let me enlighten you. Teams find it a lot easier to win penalties and kick them than to score tries. So the forwards who aren't to bright at the best of times get a bit mixed up and infringe instead of waiting for the opponent to. There are a smorgasboard of offences to choose from and it is a lot smarter for the referee to look after the home team in a close game. Check out close test matches for the last 20 years and note the home team always gets the late penalty.
30mm tags
Guest
+2 ....and the Wallabies operated on the basis that the scrum is a legitimate mechanism to milk a penalty. The Lions scrum was disintegrating and the penalty was awarded. The Lions did not want it to disintegrate but they were not capable of resisting the pressure. Sure it is insanity that scrums hold the power to yield three points but they are the rules. Australians in particular, hold the IRB to account for being unable to devise a restart that can deliver via an overly rewardesd infringement a game turning 3 point turnaround. Maybe a Wallaby scrum more consistently smashing a Loins scrum may make the NH stodgy rulemakers amend the absurdity of a 3 point prize for having a better scrum. Your lament that the half arm penalty is no longer awarded for a scrum infringement is justified . The system for point scoring should be try based not penalty rewarded for a superior scrum. Due to a breakdown the scrum should be a fair mechanism to contest the possession and if it ends in a referee decided indecisive failed scrum then maybe a tap kick to the side that fed the scrum could be awarded.Props putting their hand down to stabilize a scrum should not be a penalty. The incentive should be to get the ball back in play quickly.
Jerry
Guest
"He even went to the TMO for Cuthbert’s try." For a possible obstruction that is arguable even on a second viewing. I think it was a fair try, but to claim that wanting a second look at it is evidence of bias is laughable.
BBA
Guest
He went to the TMO on Folou's second try as well. However if that spoils your argument I can give you my best sympathy "We waz robbed, Wahh!!!!" PS It seems sad that supporters cry out after any big match seem to cry out that the referees are biased. As a neutral I thought it was a pretty great game to watch and that the referee did more right than wrong.
atlas
Guest
'even they' a writer for the Courier Mail is one person's opinion; really, carries no more credence than yours or mine. Pollock on that scrum: "If I was happy to make that call in the fifth minute, I'd want to be making it in the 75th"
atlas
Guest
you're trying to make a conspiracy from nothing here with: "Interestingly this is the first time the Wallabies have lost under his refereeing" He had refereed the Wallabies twice before this match. Refer to my earlier post for Wales coach, Lions Asst coach, Rob Howley's review of the Asutralia-Wallabies match last year “The way Chris Pollock refereed the second Test out in Australia [against Wales] last year, we’re more than happy that the tackler will have to roll away and we can get our support systems around the ball,” said Lions assistant coach Rob Howley. “We’re quite happy with Chris Pollock refereeing, he’s an outstanding referee.” I can't find the criticism there? ** wait for this weekend - Joubert! 'Joubert came in for criticism for his handling of the Scotland-Wales game, when a world record 18 penalty kicks were attempted.'
Mudfish
Guest
Read the Courier Mail from last Sunday, even they described the decision to penalise the Lions' last scrum as 'dubious'. I'm saying he refereed the game with clear and obvious bias. He even went to the TMO for Cuthbert's try. Which game were you watching??
Jokerman
Guest
Sailosi, a 7-1 penalty count against the Lions in the last 30 minutes when they were up 20-12. It just seemed an unfair flow there.
Jokerman
Guest
A catchcry, Mania, or a blessing in disguise is there usual, when given a beating! Or Cooper has hurt feelings from the NZ public. Love it.