The worst ref performance i've ever seen!!

[scarlets-fan]

Not sure if i'll come across as a bad looser here but i've never seen such one sided refereeing. He was almost looking to the crowd before every decision! Even the Irish commentator kept saying how dubious his decisions were.

To give credit to Ulster they made two good tries, but when the Scarlets put so much effort into that second half, and being the only side that was getting punished its amazing we were within 2 points at the end.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Was a touch one-sided, though not the worst I've ever seen

Take heart in knowing that if Ulster play like that next weekend, and Saints play like they did last weekend, Ulster are going to get torn to pieces

 

[scarlets-fan]

I can't really take heart in that. lol we are now out of the play off runnings solely because of the ref's decisions. I really felt that if we got a result in Ulster, with two home games left we would have got in the play-offs.

Que sera, sera.

 

[durbutter]

Not sure if i'll come across as a bad looser here but i've never seen such one sided refereeing. He was almost looking to the crowd before every decision! Even the Irish commentator kept saying how dubious his decisions were.

To give credit to Ulster they made two good tries, but when the Scarlets put so much effort into that second half, and being the only side that was getting punished its amazing we were within 2 points at the end.

Scarlets had enough ball to win. Rule 1 of rugby, play the ref.

Thought that the TMO was correct in disallowing the try common sense prevails for once.

Still the ref was shite

 

[scarlets-fan]

I agree with the TMO decision, technically it was a wrong call but a knock on is a knock on (which was of course missed by the ref) so that shouldn't have been a try. I see what you mean about playing the ref, but there's nothing you can do when Ulster aren't being penalised for obvious infringements. Plus right at the end i think Humphreys went around a standing Scarlets player and disrupted the ruck, and the ref shouted "Through the gate". Couldn't believe it!!!!

 

[cyRil]

Bit rich us complaining about TMO decisions against the Irish don't you think....?

 

[profitius]

He was bad alright and the Scarletts can feel hard done by. It looked like one team were being reffed.

Referees seem to becoming more and more part of the game. To be fair to them its impossible to get things 100% right and because of so many laws being open to interpretation its even more important that the refs are not biased. Usually the home teams get most decisions because theres more pressure on the ref to give them the decisions.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Was he a Scottish ref?

 

[Peat]

Was a touch one-sided, though not the worst I've ever seen

Take heart in knowing that if Ulster play like that next weekend, and Saints play like they did last weekend, Ulster are going to get torn to pieces

I'd like to think we can't be that bad two weeks in a row... maybe three... quite a few now we've been squeaking by, which is both bad and good - bad obvious, good they've clearly got minds on this game and will be going for it. First up tackling and ball retention surely can't be that bad vs. Northampton, or, as you rightly say, we'll get reamed.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

If Ulster had Ferris they'd have a serious chance against Saints. I still think they're in with a decent shot. They're no push overs. They're coming 2nd in the Magners League after last nights game. Some bookies have Ulster at 4/1 to beat the Saints. You'd have to be mentally ill not to get on that

 

[TRF_Olyy]

One thing I don't get with this match is that the reports say the Ulster have ended Scarlets playoff ambitions
How? There's still a few games left in the season, and Scarlets are only 4pts behind Ospreys (though only 1pt ahead of Cardiff - so the best result for them tonight would be a draw)

 

[Peat]

If Ulster had Ferris they'd have a serious chance against Saints. I still think they're in with a decent shot. They're no push overs. They're coming 2nd in the Magners League after last nights game. Some bookies have Ulster at 4/1 to beat the Saints. You'd have to be mentally ill not to get on that

If that had been a couple of weeks ago, I'd be sniggering all the way to the bank on that. But, Ulster's form has been a little bumpy, and Northampton have refound their mojo... still looks generous on paper, but I think I'll pass.

I think a look at the fixtures list says its verys unlikely the Ospreys will drop enough points for Scarlets to get past them.

 

[profitius]

Ulster and Northampton could be equal enough. The scrums and lineouts should be even. Saints have a better back 3, the midfield is equal and Ulster have better half backs. Backrow the Saints have the advantage.

The Saints look to have a better defense though. The size of the pitch can also come into play. A bigger pitch will suit Ulster because they're a smaller team I'd say and will want to keep the game loose. Maybe thats why they were playing like that against the Scarletts.

 

[Peat]

The difference is Northampton are, at their best, a clinical and ruthless bunch of ********, while Ulster are a flip-flop cavalier bunch of maniacs prone to throwing the ball away and sloppiness around the breakdown. Which will almost definitley be punished. Ulster's best is equal to just about anyone, but its a far rarer beast and so far this season has only really come out of the box to humiliate Cardiff.

 

[dullonien]

Just watched the game, it was a trully shocking performance from the ref, that basically stopped the Scarlets from being allowed to compete. Almost every time the Scarlets made a clean break in the second half, the ref allowed Ulster to do whatever they wanted in the ruck, and penalising the Scarlets for marginal infringements. The lead up to Ulsters second try stood out for me to be the worst of the night. Scarlets make a good break with Stoddart taking the ball up well, Stoddart get's tackled, an offside Ulster player picks the ball up from the back of the Scarlets ruck, to turn the ball over, then Stoddart get's penalised for tackling the scrum half even though he came from an onside position and straight through the ruck! This eventually leads to the Ulster try, even though it was poor defence around the fringes from the Scarlets to allow Danielli through.

I'm not too fussed about the TMO decision, as it was clearly a knock on by Stoddart. It's a bit poor that neither the ref or TMO knew the rules though, but there we go.

Ref also missed at least three forward passes by Ulster just to rub it in. It's a big pitty that this has basically put the Scarlets out of the running for a playoff place. I wouldn't be surprised to see an official complaint made by the Scarlets about the ref.

 

[TrueSlawter]

Just watching on Iplayer now. Quick question I thaught the TMO could only be used as the act of scoring not what happens before the line? As in the decision is only based on the touch down of the try (correct me if im wrong ofc)

Overall ref wasn't great tbh but wasnt a bad game despite this

 

[dullonien]

Just watching on Iplayer now. Quick question I thaught the TMO could only be used as the act of scoring not what happens before the line? As in the decision is only based on the touch down of the try (correct me if im wrong ofc)

Yeh, the TMO wasn't really allowed to judge whether or not Stoddart knocked the ball on or not, only whether he grounded the ball correclty. So although it was the correct decision, it wasn't decided upon in the correct manner. I don't think people should be attall annoyed by this, as it was the correct call, but the TMO did overstep his mark, surely he should have known this, and that's probably the worst thing. Whether or not people agree with the current limitations applied to the TMO, the rules should still be adhered to, and he obviously didn't even know what these rules were!

It's was the ref's inconsistency's which annoyed me. I accept that many of the rules are open to interpretation, especially at the breakdown, but the ref was completely inconsistent in this match, pinging the Scarlets for minor infringements, when Ulster were allowed to get away with similar, if not more blatant offences. Turnbull was yellow carded for something Ulster did numerous times throughout the match without even being penalised for it.

I think the Magners League need to seriously look into the quality of reffing in the league. Their policy of having 'impartial' ref's refereeing games means that clashes between Welsh and Irish teams are reffed by Scottish referres most of the time, and the quality of Scottish referees at the moment is shocking! I don't think nationality should come into the equation when picking ref's, because professional referees shouldn't and usually don't allow bias to influence their decision.

 

[TrueSlawter]

I'm not annoyed by the TMO decision, I was just wondering if it was infact incorrect that he could call that, ofc was the right decision. I agree with you on the ref's inconsistency though, at the breakdown he was shocking, at one breakdown the Ulster #8 comes in from the side, stands offside for a few seconds then tackles Knoyle then the ball was turned over, it was in the build up to the 2nd scarlets try but still it shouldn't have happened. He also missed crossing once or twice either way it seemed like 1 rule for Scarlets another for Ulster :/

Finally as for impartial ref's Nigel Owens refereed a Scarlets game before so really having a impartial ref shouldn't be used tbh it should be the best ref's they can get no matter where the ref is from.

 

[Peat]

I'll admit to

a) Being in the wrong position to get a good eye on the reffing decisions

b) Slightly perplexed (but very pleased) about the raft of penalties given against the Scarlets at their end of the park (not that I had a clue what for mind) in light of the seeming free for all at most Ulster defensivr rucks in the last quarter of the game

But, with the exception of the TMO decision, I can't see how the Scarlets can't blame the reffing more than themselves. There were in Ulster's 22 a lot and I never really felt bothered by it. They reminded me of Ulster last season, more dangerous from the halfway line than 5m out. A better team would have taken some of those opportunities and none of it would have sodding mattered.

 

[cyRil]

One thing I don't get with this match is that the reports say the Ulster have ended Scarlets playoff ambitions
How? There's still a few games left in the season, and Scarlets are only 4pts behind Ospreys (though only 1pt ahead of Cardiff - so the best result for them tonight would be a draw)

You prick!!!!