Bye Bye Paddy O'Brien

[kiap]

Interesting article. Don't know about all the associated commentary (and in fairness, won't quote it all) but it looks like Paddy's time is up at last:


Paddy O’Brien shifts sideways

by Brendan Fanning
Posted on March 23, 2012

The IRB will soon be advertising for a new referees manager as Paddy O’Brien is shifting sideways onto the Sevens circuit. The decision will be confirmed on Monday.

...

Fair enough, but my biggest issue with him was his failure to effect consistent and positive change among his refs on the issue of sealing ball off at the breakdown. It remains the greatest scourge in the game, the fact that for many players their first action when arriving to a tackle is to bridge over the ball with their hands on the ground.

It doesn’t require replays to pick it up, but it does a need a referee who will blow it up so often that the issue will be inescapable. That should have happened on Paddy’s O’Brien’s watch and it didn’t.

...

This should have been Paddy O’Brien’s legacy. He had two World Cups under his control and a whole heap of Six Nations and Tri Nations games in between, and he made no impression on this critical area. Let’s see how the next fella fares out.


Read more: http://brendanfanningrugby.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/paddy-obrien-shifts-sideways/

 

[Sandpit Fan]

I'll settle for one who is smart enough to know where & when it's appropriate to comment.

Paddy did himself no favours over the years in that regard, and Lyndon Bray seems to be coming down with the same strain of stupidity.

 

[Toby Lerone]

BBC Radio 5 Live's correspondant Alastair Eykyn (@5LiveRugby on Twitter) is also reporting some notable referee changes.

Seems like Bryce Lawrence, Wayne Barnes and Dave Pearson amongst others will be removed from Tier 1 test duty, with a streamlined panel now in place.

The full list will be published soon (possibly Monday) but Al reckons that those left on the panels to referee international Tier 1 test matches are:

• Alain Rolland
• Nigel Owens
• Romain Poite
• Craig Joubert
• Jerome Garces
• Steve Walsh
• George Clancy
• Chris Pollock

As well as the introduction of Jaco Peyper to the top tier. Be interesting to see if this is the end of 'the old guard' or whether guys like Jonathan Kaplan get opportunities in the future.

 

[RuckinGoodStats]

Sorry started a thread on Bryce being off the tier one panel. Found a reliable newspaper media willing to put it on their website http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10794342&ref=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Lior]

Really harsh on Wayne Barnes I think. More for publicity one would think?

Writing was on the wall for O'Brien though. He was dead set incompetent.

 

[Gagger]

Shows some rot had been burbling under Paddy after all.

Harsh on Barnes, liked him. Kiwis didn't.

 

[Dan54]

I actually used to think Barnes wasn't bad, but haven't been impressed last couple of years, don't think he has progressed as ref, appears a few who know these things agree with me.

 

[Ruggo]

Don't let the door bite you on the arse on the way out Paddy. Your tenure has added no benifit to the game of Rugby.

 

[DPK]

You've gotta be kidding? Barnes gets dropped when Clancy, Rollaind and Walshy all stay?

 

[Hawko]

The key problem here is not that Paddy has gone into retirement but that Paddy has morphed across to sevens rugby so he can turn refereeing in that into a total disaster too. Just in time for the first appearance in an Olympics.

 

[kiap]

From IRB.COM, confirms Barnes goooone:
IRB unveils referee selection restructure

(IRB.COM) Saturday 24 March 2012

• Selection committee to convene four times per year
• Referee panel for June internationals announced
• Process building towards Rugby World Cup 2015
• Process allows for movement in and out of the Panel based on form
• Paddy O’Brien to step down as IRB Referee Manager and transition to new Rugby Sevens role

...
The committee, which includes former elite referees Lyndon Bray, Tappe Henning (both SANZAR), Donal Courtney and Clayton Thomas (both 6 Nations), will now meet four times per year and make selections for the next international window with all performances reviewed as part of the next round of international selections.

Following a thorough review of performances during the recently concluded RBS 6 Nations, the selection committee commitment to promoting consistency has been reflected in the latest selections with nine elite referees appointed to the top games in what is a busy June international window that also sees the beginning of the schedule involving tours to Tier 2 Unions.

They are: George Clancy (Ireland), Jérôme Garcès (France), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Romain Poite (France), Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Steve Walsh (Australia).
...
“There will be consistent movement in and out of the panel based on form to reward the top performers and those making the step up as we build towards RWC 2015 in England. In short, this means that referees are selected on merit, in form and closer to the matches being played. All Member Unions are committed to this process, which is essential for its success.”
...
The committee agreed that the key areas of the Game identified for particular focus by referees needed constant reviewing. Those five key areas are:

• All aspects of the tackle with particular emphasis to be placed on the tackler releasing the tackled player and rolling away and arriving players staying on their feet
• Offside at the breakdown
• Offside from kicks
• All aspects of the scrum, particularly the engagement process and front-row binding
• All aspects of the maul, particularly what constitutes legal maul defence

...
The process for replacing O’Brien will be announced in due course.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Looks like a positive change.

 

[Roundawhile]

If they make it work I think it will be very positive for the game.

 

[kiap]

Looks like a positive change.

Hope so.

---

The (selected) mid-year appointments:

Barbarians:
27 May, v Eng, Twickenham: John Lacey.
29 May, v Ire, Gloucester: Jérôme Garces.
2 Jun, v Wal, Cardiff: Alain Rolland.

Aus:
5 Jun, v Scotland, Newcastle: Jaco Peyper, Craig Joubert, Keith Brown, Vinny Munro.
9 Jun, v Wales, Brisbane: Craig Joubert, Keith Brown, Garratt Williamson, Vinny Munro.
16 Jun, v Wales, Melbourne: Chris Pollock, Craig Joubert, Garratt Williamson, Vinny Munro.
23 Jun, v Wales, Sydney: Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper, Jonathon White, Vinny Munro.

NZ:
9 Jun, v Ireland, Auckland: Nigel Owens, Jaco Peyper, James Leckie, Matt Goddard.
16 Jun, v Ireland, Christchurch: Nigel Owens, Romain Poite, Pascal Gauzere, Matt Goddard.
23 Jun, v Ireland, Hamilton: Romain Poite, Pascal Gauzere, James Leckie, Matt Goddard.

SA:
9 Jun, v England, Durban: Steve Walsh, Alain Rolland, Simon McDowell, Iain Ramage.
16 Jun, v England, Johannesburg: Alain Rolland, Steve Walsh, Simon McDowell, Iain Ramage.
23 Jun, v England, Port Elizabeth: Steve Walsh, Nigel Owens, John Lacey, Giulio De Santis.

Arg:
9 Jun, v Italy: Jérôme Garces, George Clancy, Christie Du Preez, Shaun Veldsman.
16 Jun, v France: George Clancy, Wayne Barnes, Christie Du Preez, Shaun Veldsman.
23 Jun, v France: George Clancy, Wayne Barnes, Christie Du Preez, Shaun Veldsman.

 

[Scarfman]

Paddy going? Out-fucking-standing. His mate Bryce? Even better. Some of those selections seem weird, though. Have we got rid of Caligula just to get Claudius?

 

[Bowside]

I thought marius Jonker was good last night in the rebels game.

All these lists are still missing the best ref in the world Mark Lawrence. He must have fucked paddy's wife or something.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Mark Lawrence retired from test refereeing after he missed out on world cup selection in 2011 (saying he wanted to make way for emerging refs now). But I couldn't imagine him missing out on this list if he made himself available.

 

[Sully]

Thought he did well also.


Sent using Tapatalk on a very old phone

 

[Cave Dweller]

I hope Steve Walsh gets it.

 

[kiap]

Mark Lawrence retired from test refereeing after he missed out on world cup selection in 2011 (saying he wanted to make way for emerging refs now). But I couldn't imagine him missing out on this list if he made himself available.

Maybe he's a good candidate to replace POB?