Roar Guru
Joined November 2008
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In the gritty South African win last Saturday, a Bok water carrier harangued an assistant referee. He followed the AR up the touchline, yelling…
Law 9 (7) (b) of the Laws of the Game requires that a player must not do anything that may lead the match officials…
Every person is entitled to have his/her view about the laws of the game and their application. Some views show deep thought and are…
There were two send offs last Saturday night when New Zealand played Australia. Both players involved showed tackling skills which the Laws of the…
Let me take you to the 56th minute of last Saturday's match between the Waratahs and Sharks. The referee had just told Michael Hooper…
Michael Cheika will face no disciplinary action for his "f***ing cheats" comment during the English Test. The official statement merely gave the Aussie coach…
The more I hear and see from Michael Cheika, the less enchanted I become. It appears to me the Wallabies do not have a…
The Chiefs and Hurricanes game on Friday night was a cracker, as was the Lions and Crusaders match its own way – but unfortunately…
I became a foundation member of the Melbourne Rebels as soon as membership became available, but shortly I will be renouncing it. Here's why.…
The foreword to the laws of rugby state the object of the game is for the players to observe fair play according to the…
The outstanding feature of the Brumbies' loss on Friday night was the disrespectful way in which both teams, but especially the Brumbies, treated the…
After every Test match against England, Michael Cheika has complained about the referee in public statements to the press. The purpose of this article…
I am sitting at Heathrow on my way home pondering the last month. I have been in Great Britain, Ireland and France for all…
On the weekend, we saw our men in gold collapse again in the face of strong opposition. No, I am not talking about the…
If there was one single facet of play which lost the Wallabies the game on Saturday night against England, it was the scrum. Ever…
In the wake of his decision to leave the Brumbies, I have thought long and hard about Jake White. Without doubt he did a…
I mean to cast no aspersions upon the ability of Israel Folau when I say he should not be chosen for the Wallabies against…
Earlier in the week I referred to the cost of Lions tickets and why I thought they were outrageous. The ARU responded to my…
I received early notice to get my British and Irish Lions test tickets this year. As soon as sales opened I was online ready…
John O'Neill is shortly to leave the ARU and as a parting shot, he had a dig at referees. Fox Sports quotes him as…
I think I can mate.
“Rebels” has a sense of fighting against the mainstream hierarchy – challenging that which is in control. The implication is those against the powers that be are in the wrong.
If one accepts that, the article shows the inclinations of the writer. Either that or it suggests that his knowledge of English isn’t quite up to it. The latter is not my observation of Christy generally – he is well written. Therefore I suggest it shows his innermost thoughts of the situation.
States not RA the issue Australian rugby is facing as Wallabies great calls on reform measures to be backed
I’m not sure that is right in Queensland, Phil.
Queensland was on its knees financially, not so many years ago. They have now rebuilt Ballymore and are well in the black on their financials. Club rugby is thriving in Brisbane.
I have attended Club and representative games in South Queensland country this last season. The quality was excellent and the supporters well looked after. I hear no dissent at Club level about the QRU apart from the normal rumblings that always exist in any organisation.
From a judiciary point of view, there is an annual conference at the beginning of each season. Next season, there will be a Queensland country pre-season judiciary and referees conference to ensure that both bodies understand where each is coming from.
I am not sure what is happening in other states/territories, but Queensland seems to be running very well.
States not RA the issue Australian rugby is facing as Wallabies great calls on reform measures to be backed
I see your point Andy. Perhaps I have oversimplified things. I don’t suggest that things are not dysfunctional. But I do suggest that if the States are not happy with the executive of RA they are entitled to do something about it. Kearns would suggest otherwise.
States not RA the issue Australian rugby is facing as Wallabies great calls on reform measures to be backed
I’m not sure Phil Kearns has his priorities right here.
Rugby does not work from the top down. Provincial Rugby Unions are the culmination of rugby clubs deciding that someone should represent them. Provinces and States are represented by the national body because that decision was made by the States.
Without the Clubs, the States Unions have no reason to exist and without the State Unions, RA does not need to exist. If the States think the executive of RA is not doing its job, they not only have the right to challenge RA’s executive, they have the obligation to. After all, RA is there to look after the States and, below them, the Clubs.
Rugby should not be a dictatorship. Just because RA says there should be centralisation/alignment/any other euphemism for RA taking control, does not mean the State Unions must accept that. Especially if the State Unions think to do that will not assist their affiliated bodies.
I find it fascinating that the only people supporting Hamish in the press are New South Welshmen. Or is that observation the type of thinking causing this turmoil in the first place?
States not RA the issue Australian rugby is facing as Wallabies great calls on reform measures to be backed
Great point about League Noodles. A lot of people like it – fair enough. its’s a good game. But, no rucks, no mauls, no lineouts, no scrums, no contest for possession in each tackle, no breakaways, no goal lines, no requirement not to advance at kicks in general play etc. They tackle, they kick and they pass. Apart from that League is very different.
Exclusive: Path clear for McKellar to return as Wallabies coach despite Leicester job, Cheika's update on future
You’re right Khun Phil. Nearly all coaches criticised refs in RWC. But that does not mean that it should remain the norm. 😢
My point is that if our new coach were to do that he should not be our coach. I don’t want a coach who disrespects the positions in the game like that.
In players’ and coaches’ minds that sort of messaging leads to “It wasn’t my fault we lost. It was the ref’s”. That is clearly wrong all the time. The ref doesn’t miss tackles or conversions or knocks on with the line wide open or selects a RWC squad with only one specialist 5/8.
Refs, coaches and players have a job to do. One of them is not to insult each other with ill-founded blame. Rant over 😂
Exclusive: Path clear for McKellar to return as Wallabies coach despite Leicester job, Cheika's update on future
No. The question is not relevant to the proposition I raised.
Every time Cheika abuses a referee he makes himself and his team a victim of supposed referee errors – not me. His responses are generally delusional as to referee errors. If there were errors, and the nature of humanity suggests there always is, accept them with good humour and move on.
He represents my country. I don’t want my countrymen in his position being so churlish and graceless. That reflects badly on me and my country. Compare him to Borthwick or Raiwalui after finals losses. Both are gracious in defeat or victory.
Exclusive: Path clear for McKellar to return as Wallabies coach despite Leicester job, Cheika's update on future
Agreed Passit2me. Anyone but Cheika. He is a loose cannon. His victim mentality makes whatever team he coaches sour losers.
Exclusive: Path clear for McKellar to return as Wallabies coach despite Leicester job, Cheika's update on future
Pom, could not agree more. Cheika is a recalcitrant churl. Work rugby is doing a disservice to the game by not charging him under the code of conduct.
'The players deserved better': Cheika's fury returns as England hang on against Argentina to win RWC bronze medal
I’ve given a bit of thought to Cheika doing this for show, as you suggest. I reckon there is a bit of that. Every player I have heard interviewed about Cheika says that he is keen to take the heat off the players by diverting blame for a loss away from them. Understandable, in a way. However it is not right, I think, when the way he does that is to lay the blame on a ref/AR/TMO.
England coach's classy response as Ben O'Keeffe suffers ultimate insult from World Cup winner
Ref bashing is truly pointless save that it allows people to vent their spleen.
If NZ was not in the final, O’K would be a good appointment. He probably would have got it if Barnes couldn’t ref it and O’K could. QF and SF appointments are a good indication of what the appointments board is thinking.
Steve Borthwick impresses me the more I see of him. Calm, measured, articulate and insightful.
Could you imagine the vitriol Cheika would come out with in a similar situation? Chalk and Cheese. Not to say that Cheika is not insightful.
England coach's classy response as Ben O'Keeffe suffers ultimate insult from World Cup winner
Agreed he has been better. Much better. Yet he still gets in a dig at the ref. Cheika “not happy with the ref”. Of course he wasn’t. He never is. You don’t have to scratch hard to find a churl with that man.
All Blacks' alpha flex that summed up massive gulf as Argies 'humiliated' in 'embarrassingly bad' RWC semi
Agreed about Lang Park, BF. Imagine if the Ballymore Club was still in existence! Excellent place to watch Rugby from. The roar of the smaller but concentrated crowd at Ballymore beats Lang Park by a long way. Parochial indeed!
'Right people in right roles': QRU break silence on RA's reform hopes, back review into Wallabies' RWC flop
😂
'Right people in right roles': QRU break silence on RA's reform hopes, back review into Wallabies' RWC flop
Excellent
'Right people in right roles': QRU break silence on RA's reform hopes, back review into Wallabies' RWC flop
Cheers Phil. I hope that is correct.
'Right people in right roles': QRU break silence on RA's reform hopes, back review into Wallabies' RWC flop
Any suggestion that the QRU should hand over its assets to RA is ludicrous. RA has an appalling history of mishandling its own assets. The treasure chest left over from RWC 2003, now dissipated, is a prime example.
Currently RA needs to borrow to survive. The current QRU board has made some very clever financial decisions in recent times. Transferring assets to RA would not be one of them.
There is a big difference between giving RA QRU’s possessions and allowing a centralised system of rugby pathways and player/coach contracting. The two should not be confused.
'Right people in right roles': QRU break silence on RA's reform hopes, back review into Wallabies' RWC flop
Snape, truly incredible. Thanks for the article.
Bring back a latter day Dick Marks for heaven’s sake. A fabulous contributor to Australian Rugby as Australian coaching director was Dick. Surely there is someone with his vision and nous around.
Not so 'Smart Rugby': Putting the Australian coaching education system under the spotlight
And fair enough. If we all thought the same an attacking backline would be boring to watch!
The Wrap: Wallabies are on their way home - can they please take the TMOs with them?
Cheers Nobody.
Other sports, like cricket have taken on the technology, as you correctly point out. It does not mean that we should continue on the same path.
I’m sick and tired of watching video replays of wickets falling (or not as the case may be). I want to watch the game, not a replay of it. All that extra time taken out of the game when there are falling over rates does not fit my sense of world order!
The same applies for rugby. The ref made a decision…get on with the game, is my view.
We have diametrically opposed thoughts but still enjoy the sport so things can’t be all bad. ????
The Wrap: Wallabies are on their way home - can they please take the TMOs with them?
Morning Geoff. I could not agree more. One ref (TMO) overturning a decision of another ref (the on-field ref) takes away from the basic proposition Rugby has relied on for two centuries – “The referee is the sole judge of fact and law”.
Another consideration is the way a game is reffed at club level compared to professionally. We don’t have TMOs there, nor do we have video replays. The professional game is treated differently to the rest. The authority of the ref and respect for him/her is diminished by this.
Everyone makes mistakes. The Laws should accept that and move on. Nothing is ever going to be perfect but at least we can aim for consistent.
The Wrap: Wallabies are on their way home - can they please take the TMOs with them?
Sticky is one of life’s victims. I am convinced he has a psychological problem. He has a cognitive bias that does not allow him to think referees are competent.
'I’m p--sed off that people aren’t doing their jobs properly': Ricky Stuart gives refs both barrels in epic press conference spray
Interesting comment. Perhaps Alain is right.
My observations are that a lot of comment in Australia is informed by what is common place in League and AFL here. There is much greater leeway given in both codes than in Rugby.
Some things I see in League would be red cards immediately in Rugby but are not even yellow carded.
The Wrap: Why the Owen Farrell fiasco is a good thing for rugby
Thank you Geoff. As usual, a well balanced approach. Thank-you for expressing it.
Barristers, judges and solicitors, of variation qualifications, are required to constitute the position of chairman on judiciaries, as you know. That is because sporting Disciplinary tribunals operate under the umbrella of the laws of the land. That is especially as to the laws of natural justice and sometimes as to the laws of evidence (even to provide exclusion of the application of those laws).
The consequence is that what the general public sees as minutiae is seen as very important by the legal fraternity. When the laws of the game and the Disciplinary Rules are as long and convoluted as they are, the concentration on minutiae becomes unavoidable. It is not unusual for a third grade country hearing to last a couple of hours, for example.
However, if the laws are applied bearing their intent (not the players’) in mind, good results normally happen. The intent of the laws is to avoid injury. A bloke aiming at the hip of an opponent to grasp him around the waist will never hit him in the head with a shoulder charge.
Both Farrell and Vunipola did the latter. The use of minutiae should not get in the way of a proper result if the intent of the law is always borne in mind.
The Wrap: Why the Owen Farrell fiasco is a good thing for rugby
“The tail wagging the dog”!!!! The arrogance of the man.
An EGM will not put an end to the matter if McLennan does not go. If he stays it will perpetuate the division.
He suggests that if he is not removed then the leaders of the state unions should go. He forgets that he has no say in that whatsoever. RA is to represent the states/territories and other affiliates. He has no control over who the states/territories want to represent them and neither should he.
As for the suggestion that the EGM should be a referendum about centralisation, what a spin doctor twist that is! EGMs decide what is on the agenda for the EGM – his removal. They do not decide on an idea RA is attempting to foist upon those who do not want it.
The more I see and hear of this bloke the less I want him administering our game.
'I won't back down': McLennan set to dig in as embattled RA chair calls on EGM to 'clear this up once and for all'