Super Rugby Refs panel set for shake up

[Shaggy]

Well, it looks like there will be consequences for refereeing blunders made in this years competition according to this Stuff article reporting on SANZAR ref boss, Lyndon Bray's comments on the review process etc ... I think this is a great move - I know that Refs are human and make mistakes, but adding accountability/consequences, should provide better quality, more consistent refereeing in the long term

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/9854549/Super-Rugby-referees-panel-set-for-change

Super Rugby governing body SANZAR will conduct a purge of the competition's referees in the wake of a series of controversial blunders by match officials in the opening rounds of the season.

Lyndon Bray, SANZAR's referees co-ordinator, said the 18-member team of referees was set for change."Within the next week or two we will be making decisions that will keep our team extremely accountable," Bray said in comments published by The Australian newspaper on Friday."There is a lot of pain to go for referees ... The fact is, they're either going to get dropped out of the team, which is a significant consequence obviously, or suffering from the point of view of number and quality of appointments."It will be a strong statement in terms of those who are currently refereeing at the top of our team and those that are clearly moving in that direction and those that aren't.

"The standard of officiating came under heavy scrutiny last weekend, with coaches from several franchises fuming after contentious decisions.Bray was moved to clarify a number of them this week, including a controversial try awarded by South African referee Stuart Berry to Lions fullback Coenie van Wyk during the Johannesburg-based team's 39-36 win at home to the Auckland Blues.With help from South African television match official Johan Greeff, Berry awarded the try despite video footage showing Van Wyk's team mate Deon van Rensburg had lost the ball forward in a tackle on the try-line.Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham said he would contact Bray after some "bewildering" decisions in his team's 35-20 loss against the Sharks in Durban, while New South Wales Waratahs coach Michael Cheika also grumbled about scrum penalties in his team's loss to the ACT Brumbies.

"I would always dispute the argument that there is no accountability or action," Bray said."There is. I would only say watch this space at the moment because we're 80 percent through the process of making some of those decisions."

 

[dasNdanger]

This should be interesting. I'm trying to keep up and thoroughly watch all the matches, but due to a very busy schedule I often end up just listening to the games while doing other things. I haven't noticed any glaring mistakes - unlike last year - but then again, I'm not glued to the tv, watching every action.

That said, I know there was one call - I can't remember if it was earlier this season or last season - that was a real jaw-dropper. So obvious on video review what happened, and yet the refs still got it totally wrong. Wish I could remember what it was.

I'd like to see examples of bad refereeing this season - anything on youtube?



das

 

[Shaggy]

This should be interesting. I'm trying to keep up and thoroughly watch all the matches, but due to a very busy schedule I often end up just listening to the games while doing other things. I haven't noticed any glaring mistakes - unlike last year - but then again, I'm not glued to the tv, watching every action.

That said, I know there was one call - I can't remember if it was earlier this season or last season - that was a real jaw-dropper. So obvious on video review what happened, and yet the refs still got it totally wrong. Wish I could remember what it was.

I'd like to see examples of bad refereeing this season - anything on youtube?



das

Sure, but I don't think I'm allowed to post those kind of links here

If you were to search yourself, the Lions V Blues match ... the part where Charles Piutau is involved in either a knock back, or the Lions player knocks it on, is one of the incidents that the SANZAR refs acknowledge they got wrong.

Also Sharks V Reds, and Brumbies V Waratahs are probably worth checking out

... although not mentioned in the article an attempted intercept by Willie Le Roux from the Cheetahs earned him a Yellow Card, and allowed the Hurricanes to effectively take the game away from the Cheetahs in their match ... not sure if the decision was right or if it just warranted a penalty, but it changed the match

 

[dasNdanger]

Sure, but I don't think I'm allowed to post those kind of links here

If you were to search yourself, the Lions V Blues match ... the part where Charles Piutau is involved in either a knock back, or the Lions player knocks it on, is one of the incidents that the SANZAR refs acknowledge they got wrong.

Also Sharks V Reds, and Brumbies V Waratahs are probably worth checking out

... although not mentioned in the article an attempted intercept by Willie Le Roux from the Cheetahs earned him a Yellow Card, and allowed the Hurricanes to effectively take the game away from the Cheetahs in their match ... not sure if the decision was right or if it just warranted a penalty, but it changed the match

Oh,I didn't mean to post links to entire matches , but just if there were short clips of specific ref mistakes.

I'll have to pay closer attention. Sometimes what happens with me is that I watch too many matches and eventually spectacular plays, bad calls, humourous goofs, and even a bit of handbags all sort of blur into one huge game, and I can't always remember who did what.


das

 

[Shaggy]

Yeah, I guess it would have been ok to post highlight links ... Just wasn't sure. Having them all together in one link would have been great too ... Maybe someone will do one later in the season

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Sure, but I don't think I'm allowed to post those kind of links here

If you were to search yourself, the Lions V Blues match ... the part where Charles Piutau is involved in either a knock back, or the Lions player knocks it on, is one of the incidents that the SANZAR refs acknowledge they got wrong.

Also Sharks V Reds, and Brumbies V Waratahs are probably worth checking out

... although not mentioned in the article an attempted intercept by Willie Le Roux from the Cheetahs earned him a Yellow Card, and allowed the Hurricanes to effectively take the game away from the Cheetahs in their match ... not sure if the decision was right or if it just warranted a penalty, but it changed the match

I was happy with decision made by the ref in this instance, le Roux only got one hand to the ball - he may well have been trying to intercept the pass, but the fact that he wasn't really in a legitimate position to get the intercept meant that it wasn't really a fair attempt. That being said, if the ref had ruled it a simple knock on then I wouldn't be overly annoyed.

That being said, I was disappointed that there was no penalty try given - it was a cop out by the referee, trying not to have too big of an impact on a match. If you want to rule something one way, then you have to be consistent.