The West London's RWC blog

Plonker! Walsh I Scream...

"Advantage over!"

Barnes' Stormy Black Skies On The Wane...

A gloomy mood descended on the World Cup today when there was need for a rebuttal of the malicious comments made by some of the New Zealand fanbase. It is worth recording this because it is not sporting, has no nobility attached to it and those responsible for making the comments should be condemned then ignored. They neither support their team in a true fashion or have enough good grace to admit that the team with the best mentality won on the night. Forward pass maybe - but LOOK AT THE SCORE! You lost - and that's all there is to it.
I thought that I was the only one writing crap about this World Cup but it seems that there are a lot of Southern Hemisphere 'pundits' who put their egos way above reality and chunter on about all sorts of rubbish. Can you imagine the scenario next Sunday if the Springboks  get a grade 1 shakedown from the Argentine XV - I can hear the elephant guns being cocked in readiness by the extremists in the supporters' midst...
However, those New Zealanders - the majority I'm sure, who embrace the unique non-agressive nature of the amiable rugby supporter - will be pleased to know that Adidas are working on a new All Black accessory. A senior agent of this venerable (venerial?) blog managed to get a snap which we are pleased to offer for your opinion... Neat huh?

'Modern Times" - (84mins)

Here's the latest film by Charlie Kaplan - a real stunner with a twist in the tail. The playful comic gets all tangled up in this escapade set in Bordeaux. You've seen it once folks - you'll see it again...hopefully if New Zealand and, say Australia 'get it on'  in a semi final... Oh what a time we can look forward to, with the amiable buffoon upsetting everyone - again!

Whistle Stop Tour...

Just watched most of the Argentina v Namibia game and I found Stuart Dickinson to be very dour - in contrast to Wayne Barnes'  handling of South Africa  v  Tonga. What is Stuart's problem - if any? (Apart that he is a self-centred prig...).
Of course, in Wayne's World there is hardly any laughing and finding humour in the game - as Tony Spreadbury likes to play it but, equally, not stern or arrogant like others seem to be...Other notable performances: Chris White did well in the France v Ireland contest, Nigel Owens has been able to let his games flow with minimal interference. Wayne Barnes particularly, is not a massive chit-chat sort of referee - he seems to get his decisions explained and sorted using concise language. No messing. Anyone got a beef with the refs - got a favourite? Let us know, below...blow the whistle on the bad, praise the good!

Red and Yellow and think...and few,

Worth a mention : Paul Rees' blog for the Guardian. Don't print it - otherwise it'll be in the bin...

"Lettuce off"

Nasty play is definitely getting short changed at this year's tournament - so far. How refreshing  that what we see on TV is seen in the same light by the citing officers and duly punished. Interestingly, in Burger's case, he was praised for his "excellent conduct" during the hearing. What's all that about ref?
In fact, here's the bit from Sporting Life:

Burger pleaded not guilty to the charge, arguing the contact had occurred "between two players attempting to win possession".

However, judicial officer Terry Willis saw it otherwise.

An official World Cup statement read: "The judicial officer [JO] determined that Burger executed a reckless and sloppy tackle that was high and dangerous whilst the opposing player was in the air and therefore in a vulnerable position.

"There were no aggravating circumstances. However, there were several mitigating factors, including Burger's remorse in relation to the incident, his excellent conduct during the hearing and his good disciplinary record.

"During 34 Tests for South Africa, 42 Super 14 games and 22 Currie Cup games for his province, he had never been before a disciplinary committee for such an offence.

"The JO determined the offence to be at the mid range of seriousness. The entry point (suspension) for a mid-range offence is six matches.

"However, the JO decided in this case the suspension should be four matches in light of the mitigating factors."

Burger has had his chips.

Nigel, plainer and simple.

What a refreshing sight to watch Nigel Owens referee the game tonight. Maybe the player's respect for the game made life easy for him but it seemed such an easy, simple execution of his arbiter's job. 10/10. (Is he the best Welsh player so far?!)

Gary Gordon Blows the Whistle on Refereeing 1

OK folks - here's another chance to pose questions to our (now) resident expert on refereeing. If you have a query, or you generally 'just don't get it' then post a question here. Gary will answer. (He doesn't know that yet :¬)  )
Just as a taster, he had the temerity to take me on at what it's all about. Tsk, tsk. I watched telly for ages this weekend and he has been reffing, after injury curtailed a very successful playing career, for flipping ages. Now, honestly, who would you take notice of?
Here's the first of his comments which I think deserves to be an article - hopefully to 'open the floor' to more questions.
(Prize for anyone who can break through Gary's defensive line...)

Hi Martin

Firstly well done for setting this up, makes me all misty eyed about many happy trips to Paris with OGRFC.

It's now over 10 years since I moved north of the border and since I got injured I have been ref'ing - not the same joy as playing but it still keeps you on the park on a saturday afternoon and lets 30 guys have a game of rugby.

Reading your post on refereeing I felt compelled to add my thoughts, admittedly from a slightly different perspective of now having blown a whistle for a number of years here in Scotland and elsewhere.

Your first "note to Ref's" suggests a rule of 10 paces for advantage, at the moment the law book says that a team has to gain either a terriotorial or tactical advantage, the referee's are given clear guideline about how to apply that, and it certainly depends on whether the advantage is being played from a penalty or technical offence. Sure some referee's will apply a slightly different view in the heat of a game - but how often do you see players droping a ball on purpose or the players just asking for the penalty. I think if you try to apply a rule that says if a player moves more than 10 paces it's advantage over you'll end up with a more stilted game. Certainly it is a fact that some great tries are scored off advantage. I think it is best to give the ref some latitude as on the whole we get a better game. Make it hard and fast and, in my humble opinion, you'll end up with a less exciting game. Just look at the very small advantage applied in Football - I know which I prefer.

Interesting thought about using the TMO on foul play, I think they did something with that during the super 14 - not sure how successful it was, I would think it just adds to a greater number of breaks during the game - enough people complain about the time TMO's take to decide on try's - is the current method of a Citing commissioner and the right of a team to cite a player after the game not the best way? Certainly the game is "cleaner" than it was.

Finally you ask for consistency from ref's. From my own experience I have never met a ref who isn't taking part from a genuine enjoyment of the game who is wanting to officiate on the game in a fair and consistent manner - do they get it right all the time? no. After all they are human as well and don't forget that they have one perspective on every incident and a moment to make a decision. Certainly not the multiple angles and time to consider every decision, unlike Stuart Barnes, who still manages to show the most unbelievable lack of knowledge of the laws of the game - don't listen to him, I'll guarantee everyome of the 12 ref's at the world cup know the law and how to ref a game of rugby better than he does!!!! Brian Moore is the only commentator who has a good understanding, shame we don't get to listen to him.

Anyway, as you can see I've moved to the dark side and have become a defensive referee - how did that happen...

Keep up the good work and enjoy the World Cup - all the very best to all at WLRFC.

Gary Gordon

Whistle While You Work

Well done Wayne Barnes. Sympathetic refereeing today but unluckily for Italy, he had to 'go to the TV official... who made a decision about their (no) try. Who was the spoilsport TMO I wonder Craig Joubert?!
I also thought that Rodney 'O sole mio' (No8) spent a lot of his time blocking in midfield - which went unnoticed, and there was a lifting of the legs tackle - 'spear' tackle also.
Contrast this with Jonathan Kaplan in the England v United States game. He 'didn't see' Phil Vickery hacking down Emerick er sorry 'tripping'...but he gave Emerick a yellow card for spearing Barkley later in the game.
Note to the referees: Allow the team with 'advantage' no more than say 10 paces to do something, or ten seconds max...not thirty seconds or more - and keep it consistent. Don't let phases of play pass and then blow up for the original offence - it's not advantage, it's pathetic.
Note to the referees: Identify foul play using the TMO. Vickery should have gone... maybe even identify trends, and advise the man on the pitch ie: So'oialo standing in the strangest of places... could be a good thing. After all, the referee gets as much extra information from the touch judges as they can give, why not the all seeing eye. Nothing would slow down in real time but the referee's decision making would be enhanced.
Note to the referees: Keep it consistent. Some things never change!

Referees..."What's on André?"

Everyone knows the referees have it easy. They often get it wrong, and have to listen to whingers like Richie McCaw  harping on for 80 minutes.  However, the armchair pundit knows best.
Here you can post a comment about the multi-talented arbitrators, from those that blow the pea out of the whistle, to the gentle nice Mr Allan Rolland, the super Joel Jutge, the 'rosbif' Wayne Barnes, and ending with the dynamic duo of  Stuart Dickinson and Steve Walsh, who seem to be neck and neck in a    " I have my head so far up my backside" competition.
Luckily, André will not be in Paris...