Generally I am not a fan of conspiracy theories, particularly of the political genre.
But I am beginning to wonder about the treatment of the rugby minnows at the World Cup. I speak in particular about the proliferation of red cards issued to the lesser nations.
Up until the start of this week the stats are telling: Samoa (three red cards), Italy (two), Uruguay, Argentina, USA and Australia (one each).
Notice anything? So the major nations (other than Australia) are squeaky clean. No foul play warranting a red card.
Having watched Fiji vs Wales, I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that the big boys almost always seem to get the rub of the green.
The Welsh hooker Kenny Owens – while receiving a yellow for a tip tackle – clearly took the Fijian player well through the horizontal. Listening to the discourse between the officials, he was apparently saved a red because through sheer good luck the Fijian landed on his back!
The odious TMO Ben Skeen, totally out of character, did not try to persuade Jérôme Garcès to issue a red.
The Welsh meanwhile spent large portions of the match lying all over the ball and Fijian players, in order to stop the Fijian players’ up-tempo style of play with little or no intervention by Garcès except when a Fijian – out of frustration – hurtled no arms into a ruck and cleaned out a Welsh player by connecting with his back, which warranted a yellow card.
This is but one illustration of the apparent inconsistencies in the treatment of players from different countries.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
TV ratings depend on attracting large audiences. Major nations attract large TV audiences. Advertisers want large audiences. The likes of Samoa, Uruguay, Italy and others do not produce large audiences and consequent revenue.
It is remarkable that, with the exception of Reece Hodge, no-one from a major nation has been red-carded. Indeed, some countries seem almost immune to yellow cards and some prominent players especially seem immune from referee scrutiny. To punish such leading players – no names, no pack drill – would damage the TV audience and ratings.
While I am not a huge fan of Drew Mitchell, his rage about Ben Skeen’s performance at this World Cup was palpable at the half-time break of the Wales vs Fiji match.
I am not suggesting refereess and officials – other than Skeen, who clearly regards himself as much bigger and more important than the game – are corrupt.
I am suggesting there is a disposition by match officials to scrutinise some teams and some players more closely than others and to look for penalties/yellow cards/red cards as more likely to come from certain teams and certain players.
We know that referees often form a view about one team’s scrummaging technique and such teams suffer accordingly. It is not too much of a stretch for them to come to a similar mindset about foul play.
It is both regrettable and commercially unsatisfactory that one of the key talking points and most prominent issues of this tournament is the performance of match officials and the men in their precious blazers hiding behind those officials.
The interference in the flow of games is a blight.
Stu
Guest
The Wales v Uruguay refereeing was extraordinary. The Welsh were penalised 15 times, mostly in the first half, and Uruguay were penalised eight times. A Uruguay player was sent off early in the second half for an infringement at the breakdown supposedly because the team had had too many infringements. Two minutes later a Wales player committed an identical infringement and wasn't sent off.
Dave
Guest
We ended our pool 2nd earliest. Turns out the cancellations were ok for SA. I think the extra rest helps NZ but England and France get too much rest and no hard games.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Yes!! I watched a replay and the player was on his feet!! Crazy stuff. Mind you, I was not even aware of the rule, which seems a stupid rule in any case.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
That confirms the theory not disproves that tier 1 nations are not getting them.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
No, he’s making unsubstantiated and ridiculous claims and taking them to their ridiculous conclusions. There, fixed it for you.
In brief
Guest
The answer is yes of course, but not quite as obvious as it has been in previous years, which is saying something.
westown
Guest
Or it could be that the top tier rugby teams are more professional in their approach to the game in general. Success just isn't about having the best athletes; A disciplined culture, a greater focus on technical excellence and comprehensive preparation and coaching around the laws of the game would be obvious prerequisites that go hand in hand with being the best. I'd also expect that ill-disciplined and technically lazy players are more likely to be squeezed out the top teams where there's more competition for spots. No surprises that some people jump on conspiracy theories\bias rather than consider a more rational explanation.
westown
Guest
No, he's taking your unsubstantiated and ridiculous claims to their ridiculous conclusions.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
When I see a referee teaching a minnow team the rules with multiple technical penalties while allowing the top tier team to cheat, I change the channel. I cannot enjoy a game that is not refereed fairly. The Fijians were refereed poorly in the game against Wales.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Not even sure if that 'tackling when on the ground' penalty was even technically correct, they only showed one replay but he seemed to still be on his feet when he made the tackle (and yes he was getting hit on suspicion as well). That one led to Wales' 4th try and let them close out the game, as poor a call as the crooked feed against Samoa in the 80th minute of the Japan game.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Better do something about it before the next one when we become one of the minnows.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Conspiracy is simply wild speculation of cause. Incompetence, of the type you describe in the 2013 test, is fuel for that fire. To do conspiracy really well you have to turn a blind eye to any other causal factor, however obvious.
Ralph
Roar Guru
And if they deny it ethan -- well -- that's what any conspiracy would do so that would proof it beyond irrational doubt.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Yes I can see it happening now. The teams in the QF who played 4 games and lose can use the excuse it was disadvantaged due to not enough time between matches for recovery. The teams who have only played 3 games before the QF’s are able to use the excuse not enough matches to get combinations right and/or unable to maintain match play readiness. Which is it to be? :happy: :happy:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Two Tier one countries like Eng/FRA or NZ/Ita?
Bill Chapman
Roar Rookie
Just to add a little fuel to the fire ........... I wonder what the reaction of the RWC heavies would have been if the cancelled matches were to be between 2 tier 1 countries - just wondering. No change of venue/date?
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
I've never known rugby union to be so into the referees/TMO. That's what we mungo's do!
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Are you trying to be funny?
ethan
Guest
Depends if the action is purposeful or accidental. To that, we can only assume.
Malo
Guest
Any hard tackles get a card. No rucking, now no hard hits next oz tag. It’s a new game where faking a head knock is worth more than a try. Acting is the no.1 attribute.