Just curious, how would you rate the referees in terms of consistency out of the current panel? Current panel consists of; Romaine Poite, Jerome Garces, Mathieu Raynal, Pascal Gauzere, Wayne Barnes, JP Doyle, George Clancy, John Lacey, Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper, Nigel Owens, Chris Pollock, Steve Walsh.
Nigel Owens is hands down my favourite. He is always fair, and was the one to point out Pape's knee on Heaslip's back even though he was a touch judge. He's not afraid to tell it like it is. I'll always love that moment when he told Mike Brown and some french player they were immature.
I like Craig Joubert. He can be very good. He was disappointing in the RWC final 2011. Didn't penalise NZ for about 4 infringements and thought he should have gone to the TMO for the forward pass in the last passage of play in the Ireland/England match two weeks ago. It was forward but think he shouldve confirmed with the TMO.
Thought Jaco Peyper was good but not too sold on him after the Wales/France game 2 weeks ago. Made a couple of dodgy decisions.
Wayne Barnes is either extremely good (example when he spotted a double movement Ireland/Wales 2014 - just picking out what I remember), or he can be pretty awful, like that time he missed a forward pass in the world cup 2007 (pretty sure it was france and NZ again).
Steve Walsh is my least favourite. Makes some awful decisions and personal opinion but don't like the way he refs the choke tackle.
As for George Clancy, I'd love to know what people make of him who aren't Irish. I never thought he was great but he impressed me awarding that penalty try 2 weeks ago.