Abandon the non-neutral referees!

[chief]

Title says it all, let's fucking get rid of this policy. Too much pressure on referees, to easy for "emotional" supporters to find a scape goat.

After the controversial Paul Marks fiasco which Sharks supporters felt aggrieved by (I thought he did a decent job), I think SANZAR has had its trial and now they need to go. Or maybe the experienced referees ie: Steve Walsh, Stu Dickinson, Mark Lawrence, Jonker, Kaplan should only be allowed to referee teams from their own country against a team from a different country

But come on let's get rid of them. Far too much pressure.

 

[cyclopath]

Yep. Too much scope for whining when teams lose - we all do it.

 

[Sully]

Perhaps we should All act our age and get over it.

 

[JJJ]

Won't stop the Saffas from whining -- they're largely convinced that there's an "ANZAC spirit conspiracy" against their sides, and that saffa refs are the only genuinely neutral refs to be found.

I wouldn't mind seeing it go though, just so the seed of doubt doesn't fester in my mind after reffing performances like we've seen at Loftus this season.

 

[Blue]

Won't stop the Saffas from whining -- they're largely convinced that there's an "ANZAC spirit conspiracy" against their sides, and that saffa refs are the only genuinely neutral refs to be found.

I wouldn't mind seeing it go though, just so the seed of doubt doesn't fester in my mind after reffing performances like we've seen at Loftus this season.

Thats old hat mate.

Welcome to 2010.

The most vocal whining this year has not come from South Africa (until this weekend, which was a legitimate whinge. For a change).

 

[Scotty]

Yep. Too much scope for whining when teams lose - we all do it.

Since the Reds won, am I allowed to have a whine? Rewatching the first half of the chiefs game yesterday, and there were a lot of 50/50 calls that went to the Chiefs. I feel they got the rub of the green from the Ref, particularly in the first 20 minutes.

 

[JJJ]

Won't stop the Saffas from whining -- they're largely convinced that there's an "ANZAC spirit conspiracy" against their sides, and that saffa refs are the only genuinely neutral refs to be found.

I wouldn't mind seeing it go though, just so the seed of doubt doesn't fester in my mind after reffing performances like we've seen at Loftus this season.

Thats old hat mate.

Welcome to 2010.

The most vocal whining this year has not come from South Africa (until this weekend, which was a legitimate whinge. For a change).

You could be right in terms of the majority view. Most of what I'm going by are the latest opinions dribbled by south african posters on Keo, rugby365 and, to a lesser extent, BBC 606. And the ANZAC conspiracy is something that pops up every week (and is enthusiastically received) whenever one of their teams lose under a kiwi or aussie ref.

 

[chief]

Yep. Too much scope for whining when teams lose - we all do it.

Since the Reds won, am I allowed to have a whine? Rewatching the first half of the chiefs game yesterday, and there were a lot of 50/50 calls that went to the Chiefs. I feel they got the rub of the green from the Ref, particularly in the first 20 minutes.

A bit disappointing to see the commentators bad mouth the reds engagement when both teams were going first. I mean what was the point of ref saying the word engage anyways if it was to make no effect on play. Surely if both teams complied to the laws it wouldn't have had those scrums with all the resets.

Thee ANZAC conspiracy would certainly explain why they hate Dickinson so much

 

[Ash]

They have every right to complain. Marks was awful - just look at the litany of forward passes and knock ons he missed.

You can bet if an Australian side (especially the Tahs) got served that performance in SA by an SA ref then everyone here would be complaining loud and clear.

 

[Pfitzy]

Too much pressure on referees, to easy for "emotional" supporters to find a scape goat.

Nope. Its too easy to get inexperienced refs full stop. Some of the blokes put up over the years from various countries have been abysmal.

What irks me about the refs - and it doesn't matter where they come from - is their complete lack of balls when dealing with a problem. At this level they're afraid to yellow card the professional fouls, and too afraid to red card the genuine foul play. I am a firm believer that any form of foul play outside a professional foul needs full sanction, and refs do not for fear of altering an outcome.

It goes back to the old adage: "If you don't infringe, I don't blow the whistle". Similarly, if you punch someone, I reserve the right to red card you.

 

[Ruggo]

Just put quallity refs out on the field. Who gives a toss where they are from. Later in the year when matches that wont have any bearing on finals appear, blood some less experienced refs and team them up with experienced touch judges.

Hold them accountable for their performance is all I ask. Some refs this week have some explaining to do.

 

[DPK]

How do you define "experienced" and "quality"?

 

[Biffo]

Perhaps we should All act our age

WTF?? And miss out on all the fun?

 

[Langthorne]

Neutral or not, there will always be complaints.

As a general rule, I find the NZ refs to be the best.

The Bulls were better than the Tahs - the Bulls won
The Tahs were better than the Sharks - the Tahs won (yes, I know they were both shit)
I'm sure we could go through both games and find decisions to complain about, but I really don't think that through the course of the matches the refs disrupted the results.

 

[Spook]

People forget that Lawrence basically ran a blocking line for the Bulls to score against the Brumbies and the penalty ratio was very much in favour of the Bulls.