I hope that this little essay would be read by World Rugby, and taken seriously, but I doubt it.
I am definitely not in the Rassie Erasmus camp and I am a fan of Nick Berry, just to establish the basis of this post.
I am not against referees and have the utmost respect for the hard job they do.
I refereed for a couple of years back in the ’80s because I mistakenly thought that that was the best way to stay connected. I basically hated the experience and gave it away after two years. Coaching and managing were more the go for me.
At the risk of being too repetitive, I repeat the little anecdote that I have told a few times before here.
In the earliest days of Rugby in UK, so the theory goes, there was no umpire or referee on the pitch. The captains, being gentlemen (apparently) sorted out any disputes, and if they could not reach agreement, they “referred” it to some luminary on the sideline, such as the local vicar, or magistrate, or someone else of importance. Hence the term ‘referee’ when literally every other sport has ‘umpires’— except the mungos, of course, who blindly imitate everything we do (that should be good for a few flames!).
My thesis was that they could just as easily be called ‘umpires’ as in other sports, but as far as I can tell, an umpire is someone whose ruling is final and binding. Someone who has the courage of his convictions. Someone who is prepared (or able, given the rigours of his employment contract) to suffer criticism for the way that he manages a game.
A referee is someone whose rulings depend on other final arbiters. The title referee is probably more apt than ever – because these days they have a tendency to refer everything. I do understand that being a high-level referee is a job where you are constantly under review and you don’t want to make the kind of mistakes that cost your career, but I question whether or not we have gone too far in the wrong direction.
(Photo by Soccrates/Getty Images)
I didn’t watch the game that Nick Berry refereed on that Lions Tour, as I have no interest in Lions vs SA games, but I have read the 80-page judgment and I have drawn my own conclusions. I do feel for referee Berry, and I do feel that the Saffas have shown how petulant they really are. No respect, gentlemen.
But, unfortunately for the likes of Mr Berry and all of his colleagues, they are being forced by World Rugby to be referees, and here, I include TMOs.
Personally, I would prefer the term ‘nuisance’, the way things currently stand.
We’ve seen many games this spring or autumn series (depending on which hemisphere you live in) where the TMO has had way too much involvement. I’m not suggesting that there is any difference between NH and SH. Give them an inch…know what I’m saying?
I’ve just watched a replay of Bristol vs London Irish (30/10) where three Bristol players were all yellow carded within eight minutes of each other, so three on the bench at once. Ridiculous. Even though I am a London Irish fan, I don’t want to see my team getting an advantage because it was a 15-12 contest. If the referees got their way they could send 15 or 20 men a game to the bin. Do we want that?
Of course not, and neither do the refs, so don’t hold that hammer over their heads.
By the way, if you get a chance, have a look at that game on Stan, it was a cracker and nobody made the kind of schoolboy handling mistakes that the Wallabies made last week. I have to say that English Premiership Rugby is a joy to watch despite the referees.
A couple of seasons ago, I watched an NRC game that was refereed by Damon Murphy. There was no TMO and the ref had to make decisions on the spot, with the occasional help of the touchie. It was a most entertaining game, the decisions were made quickly and decisively and the commentators made special mention of it.
The TV presenter didn’t go into any great level of interpretation, with not too many replays and just got on with the game. I can’t even remember who the teams were, but it was an incredibly good spectacle and not interrupted by continual stoppages while we went upstairs. I think Queensland Country might have been one of the teams.
Quite possibly what got Murphy into the top rank.
So, what are the unintended consequences?
Deliberate knock-on or accidental knock-on? I mean, really? If you analyse the stats (and I have not) I would think that about eight times out of ten the player is really trying to intercept. Yet we penalise the innocent, just in case they are guilty (about a one in five chance – Sportsbet would not give you great odds on that).
Scrum, ruck and maul penalties – a lottery. How do we fix it? I don’t know.
Head contact – yes, we have to be tough on it, no question, but there should be a referees’ protocol that if the ref exercises a bit of commonsense or compassion, he or she won’t have a career consequence applied. It’s a developing protocol, and the referees should be encouraged to be part of its development.
We must never forget that we celebrate the fact that “rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes”…it’s actually enshrined in the laws, so we have to be cognisant that big men will have to tackle littler men, that people will, occasionally get their head in the wrong place and cop a knee, so we have to work out ways to deal with it.
Talking to officials – does it come from frustration? I’ve noticed that at least in the NH everybody wants to be the ref’s mate, give him a pat on the arm and have a chat. By and large the refs deal with it pretty well, but why should they have to?
(Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
If we just concentrate on those four issues, we could eliminate a fair few yellows and reds. I still believe that we should go like football, where a yellow means you stay on the field, but get cited. In other words, let the ref be the game ref and let the citer/tribunal be the judge. We need to keep it a 15-15 game. Any argument in favour of red cards and send-offs, is, in my view, bullshit.
Many years ago, when I was coaching at Norths in Sydney there was a referee, Flip van der Westhuizen. The players loved being refereed by him because he let the game flow and was very loud in his explanations. He facilitated pure running rugby. In fact, Campo asked him to referee his farewell game, which, if memory serves was an Australian BahBah’s game against a mob of internationals from all over. Crazy game and a cricket score, but a great game for the players and a magnificent spectacle for us watchers at the SFS.
Van der Westhuizen was, unfortunately, a casualty of the start of the professional era and was let go from the top level. An absolute loss to all of us at Northies, and probably to many other clubs, because, at the end of the day, rugby is meant to be a game that is enjoyed by players and spectators alike, and if you kill the spectacle and the joy, you will eventually kill off the game.
If you are reading this, Flip, kudos to you. You are a part of a lost generation.
Objective
Guest
Law 11(3) mate.
Squirellgrip
Roar Rookie
Feel sorry for the refs ( sometimes), as the leather arm patched administrators just cant stop fiddling. The slap down law is a mess. So is the head knock nonsense when a player with the ball can just about do anything to the head of a tackler with forearm, hip or shoulder with impunity. We all expected it to be about that swinging arm, shoulder charge or coat hanger when it came in, but geez they have screwed it up.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Unless it was Richie entering every ruck from the side but otherwise you take the good with the bad.
gatesy
Roar Guru
You are correct... "as fans we know the refs will make mistakes and that to us is part of the game"...it's called the 'rub of the green', it has been around forever and we generally just cop it and get on with it.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Indeed players are not criminals. But somehow a ref culture has developed where some referees posture like detectives seeking evidence for a murder. It may be fear or insecurity about being tasked as a human to perform as a computer. But in any event, refs are expected to do more than a human can. And administrations are whistling with faux innocence.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ referees are set-up for failure” Yes EFF. This issue has been swept under the rug throughout the pro era. They are humans burdened with computer/robot expectations. These flare ups ignite the inevitable Consistency! Accountability! Vs Shutup Ya Whingers! tennis match. While those with the duty and power to reform the situation sit on their hands. It’s not the refs fault (although some do themselves no favours). It’s the administrators’ duty to simplify and clarify the role of the ref, not to remove subjectivity, but to maximise objective expectations, so that we see what we came for- rugby. Not the ref (or the idiot in the box).
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Refereeing, umpiring or synchronised swimming judging? It’s not as silly as it sounds. It’s not my discovery. Someone else wrote it on these boards. During each game, we fans wait for adjudication by the 4 man committee of judges who interpret split second moments in multi second slowmo. Passive and anxious we wait poolside of the slush pit of collision confusion for several oh so special moments each game, of designated close ups. Dunno bout you but that’s not rugby for me. We have a game akin to a jungle riot, that is being interpreted by surgical close ups of the relevant and otherwise. The trouble with spots of accuracy is that there are many other spots in a game.
John
Guest
How petulant was Rennie and Wallabies supporters after the Wales thumping?
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article Gatesy, yes it is good to watch a game where the ref seems to be in sync with the game. He seems to be across most things that have impact on the play & ignores the other misdemeanors so as to not interupt the flow. These guys always seem to have the respect of the players as well. Sounds like we need more Flips.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Sure… if I worked in the public eye and was one of the best of the best I would expect to either a. Hold my hand up personally and admit I was wrong or b. Have my employer do it for me. Either way the consequences would be the same. I am held accountable for my performance to those it effects and am reprimanded accordingly. Unfortunately those who not effects are not only the teams on the pitch, but the fans. If Rennie is right and the admitted it was the wrong call 2 weeks ago then why is that done in secret? What if Rennie decided to go public with that piece of information before kick off instead of after a 2nd poor performance by the same official? My feeling is there is to much back room talk and we the fans (and now the coaches) have had enough. Why can’t they admit the ref had a shocker and will be dropped to lower grades of rugby until he can prove him or her self worthy of the big stage again.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
One red card from Valentini and he is a serial offender.... I am struggling to recall the last time he got penalised or carded for a genuine high shot.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
A good game of refereeing was spoilt by the rugby ????
Hooter
Roar Rookie
A bit harsh for an employer to publicly criticise their employee. If you were in the referee's place would you want your boss to openly say "He stuffed up"?
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
Nick Berry admitted to 17 errors…… The officials are not the coach. They should focus on applying all the laws all the time and not warn or instruct players to let go, step back , ball is out, your in front, release, tackle ball, and the list go on. Players should know the laws and if not should be blown off the park.
piru
Roar Rookie
Deliberate knock-on or accidental knock-on? I mean, really? If you analyse the stats (and I have not) I would think that about eight times out of ten the player is really trying to intercept. Why are we trying to determine intent anyway? Just get rid of the deliberate knock on ruling (I say ruling, not law, as it doesn't exist anywhere in the law book - to find a penalty in it, you have to add several laws together then make a leap) altogether
Ex force fan
Guest
I am definitely not in the Rassie Erasmus camp and I am a fan of Nick Berry, just to establish the basis of this post. On the basis of this post you should also not be in the Rennie camp and be a fan of Marius Jonker....Correct? My view is that referees are set-up for failure and that World Rugby needs to reform the pre-match and post-match reviews at Test matches so that issues can be raised and addressed outside the media circus. Fining those that mention the obvious: the King has no clothes solces nothing.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
First… good article and I enjoyed the read. Here is my thinking about it all. As the big international games are worth a boat load of money to a lot of people WR does not want theses games to be won or lost on an incorrect call. They also know that law suits are coming from head injuries and this the TMO stepping in on everything. The problem is that we have two games now. We have the game that is played in jr levels and at our clubs that do not have a TMO. Like you said in your article, just a ref and his touchies doing their best. As fans we know the refs will make mistakes and that to us is part of the game. (As long as their mistakes are consistent and not one sided of course). The second game we have is the professional game that is run by money. Decisions must be correct because as we saw in a. 62 minute video all decisions by the ref can be re analyzed and made to look one way or another. The pressure on the entries ref team (including the TMO) is very high as money now runs the game at this level. Unfortunately I believe this problem will only get worse.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Take a look at the lower level international games where the big bucks are not at stake… less TMO and more rugby in those games.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Noodles.. talking of the apology for the AAA call. Did we the fans hear about this? Did I miss the public statement from WR or the refs association? Because if They did then that is on me. But if they did not make that public then why the hell not?
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Hey guys...it's a really hard thing. I have played our beautiful game as a younger and later played and more importantly umpired cricket. On my own. The old bring him on from both ends gig. So I know perfectly well what it's like to make all the calls. With a short break in concentration between overs while you moved from end to end. Now compare that with rugby referees. You need to trot around for, well I don't know but let's call it twenty minutes plus a few walks, then ten minutes break then back at it. All the while making decisions about this and that. I'm not making excuses, but it's not an easy job. Especially with all the scrutiny!