The West London's RWC blog

"Cheers Coq"

Some of you may have read on the Plessis blog  about the marathon pis* up that took place last week around the streets of Paris. The album on the right er left (now where did I leave that glass..?) is a jolly record of the event. You will also be tempted by the video on the Plessis site, particularly if the two charming young ladies with tangible assets feature. (i'm off to have a look!) 

Oh - by the way - the title means  'elbow lifters'. Any advance or comment on that?

Burger Bar

The blonde bombshell is also up before the beak. "Only going for the ball"  says the manager. As always. Silly Samoan for carrying the ball tucked under his chin...

Picture from the Guardian

Breaking News - Well, he nearly did...

Phil Vickery is going to a solicitor's office  in Paris today to complain about the appaling camerawork that gave the impression that he was caught 'in fragrante dekickto'. In fact, he was only trying to clear the bobbling player into touch, according to his counsel, Mr Wayne Rooney QVC.

Another Warm Up Game For Argentina

Tonight's game, on ITV4 at 19:00 - that's 7pm in old money - is between Argentina and Georgia. In homage to referees everywhere, here's a bit of Ray Charles to help pass the day...

Allez les bleus et blancs!

Sport-U-Like

Smart People in Paris Play Rugby & Sport here.

Smart People in London Play Rugby here.

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

Ref: The Ref

Gary Gordon has written an interesting note from the referee's point of view and you can read it in the Arbitration "Come on Ref" bit. Just click on it and read...
As Gary is being so serious, I might even make it a post and encourage him to keep us up to date with controversial moments.
He's got it all wrong mind you...

Picture shows AGM of the Scottish referee's Society getting their 'r' s into gear and doing the 'Gary Gordons'

Champagne Rugby - without the bubbles?

So.
In the cool, clear light of a nice Monday morning, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England are sitting in grim realisation that all the training camps, videos, diets and so forth, cannot compensate for the  enthusiasm and spirit which was shown by their respective opponents these past two days.
Scotland had the lightest outing - against the amateurs of Portugal - and there were plenty of big plays from the oral hygienist, the lawyer and an assortment of traders against the little flowers of Scotland.
Given all the 'talking up' that goes on when the six nations happens, Ireland's forwards were blasted all over the place by Namibia - a shocker of a performance, Wales had dirt in the carburretor against Canada, before finding their finishing touch...
So here are the qualifiers for World Cup 2007 Quarter Finals:
A) England, South Africa B) Australia, Wales C) New Zealand, Italy D) France, Argentina... I have probably made a mistake in there somewhere...

I'll Have Samoa That!

Good morning everybody. Another day dawns - overcast in London - so I guess it must be the same in Paris. There could be a few fireworks at 15:00 this after...when South Africa and Samoa indulge in a friendly bit of "bish bash bosh" (with a fair helping of bish bash BOK I reckon).
Scotland have got a bit of holiday in Portugal, the bloody great fishes will have a tussle against Canada, while Ireland, basking in the 'Pool of Death' will get Irish eyes a smilin' with a victory over Namibia. (Unlike the attrition there will be when the Argentina rowdies come looking for a scrap - eek!).
Have a lovely day people, I'm off for a walk in the woods with Jack, the blog dog, followed by roofing, a bit of rugby, a couple of hours on the velo and then an evening of up to the minute reportage on all things indirectly related to this wonderful tournament!
Allez! Bon matches, bon appetit and bon zer (for Australian viewers).
PS. I just had the thought that, if Wales end 'all square' with Canada, would it be... A Nantes Drew Mystery? (Sorry)

"Through a) Lens Darkly"

Well, well, well.
England got a try, they banked on Barkley and stumbled to an unconvincing win early on Saturday evening. For the most part they looked well oiled - not a well oiled machine and it was a pleasure to watch the sideshow from the American team, inventing, endeavouring and, well, scoring.
It was refreshing to see a shambolic lineout - better today than next Friday when they will have had a Burger, and their chips! I had high hopes for Simon Shaw - maybe next match eh?
Argentina must have enjoyed watching the match. Corny? Beefy? No - just sliced white, without much filling and spread thinly.
I think Ken Livingstone has already cancelled the bus - probably he's inviting Horatio Nelson Mandella back to London again...