Steve Walsh

[Spook]

]Whether he had momentum to get over the line and up over Turner, or not, without the knee action became irrelevant once the knees were used.

My point is they weren't used. It was his twisting motion (and momentum) that got him over Turner (actually aided by Turner who pulled him towards the try line and on top of him) - he ended up on his knees and simply reached out over Turner. He was always moving forward so it appears he pushed off his knees. They weren't needed nor were they used.

 

[Spook]

Walsh has been dumped from the Brumby match. No reason has been given yet as to why this has happened.

 

[Tah_Man]

Well, Bray folded....

Under-fire Kiwi rugby referee Steve Walsh has been pulled from the ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds game in Canberra on Saturday night.

In an updated list of Sanzar referee appointments for this weekend's Super 14 matches, Walsh has been removed from the pivotal all-Australian clash at Canberra Stadium. He was originally scheduled to referee the match, but has now been replaced by fellow New Zealander Chris Pollock.

Walsh has been completedly removed from the weekend's officiating appointments after the Brumbies reportedly lobbied for him to be dropped from their match.

The Sydney-based New Zealander's original appointment to referee the match had come under the spotlight after his performance in last weekend's Brumbies-NSW Waratahs match in Sydney was heavily criticised. The Tahs won the game 19-12 to put a severe dent in the Brumbies' semifinal hopes.

I think Pollock is actually quite a good referee (although still behind Munro as far as the NZ stock goes), so this should have little impact on the game

Firstly, it did seem starange that the same referee was refereeing the same team for two weeks in a row (considering it wasn't an overseas appointment). Surely it would have been more wise for SANZAR to just with-hold all the appointments before making any announcements?

This is now the second time this season that Bray has caved into pressure from teams and the media. It is also worth noting that Marks hasn't had a S14 game since round 4, and we're now up to round 12.

 

[matty_k]

It was the smart thing to do. Try to avoid any potential controversy.

 

[Spook]

This is now the second time this season that Bray has caved into pressure from teams and the media. It is also worth noting that Marks hasn't had a S14 game since round 4, and we're now up to round 12.

Nice piece of spin. He was dismissed for incompetence. He cost the Sharks a victory.

 

[Spook]

It was the smart thing to do. Try to avoid any potential controversy.

It'll be interesting when the reason comes out. Controversy is not a valid reason IMO. If Walsh did nothing wrong, he should not be penalised. Doing so could result in legal action.

 

[matty_k]

Totally agree I wanted to see how Hoiles would handle the game.

But I also don't want to see the same as last week. Hoiles, the Brumbies and Walsh would definitely have been going into the game with a grudge.

 

[Spook]

Totally agree I wanted to see how Hoiles would handle the game.

But I also don't want to see the same as last week. Hoiles, the Brumbies and Walsh would definitely have been going into the game with a grudge.

True, it could have actually been worse for the Reds.

 

[matty_k]

hahaha nice

 

[fatprop]

Will the Brumbies get to choose their refs for next season as well?

Walsh didn't lose them the game, their play being more shit than the Tahs lost them the game

 

[Scarfman]

You know, Walsh was generally incompetent, and lost control of the game, despite his new ink.

Bray is a ref that wouldn't have officiated two games in a row under the current regime.

 

[jcmp99]

Excert from RH

Bray was emphatic Walsh got it right on Ashley-Cooper's scramble over the line - ruled a double-movement.

"The ruling was absolutely correct. He was four and a-half metres short when he lands in the tackle, rotated once which is fine (that's momentum), then in order to get across the goal-line has got off his knees and launched over the tackler to force the ball.

"I don't think you can for a second in law criticise Steve's decision."

and

Bray conceded Walsh, who's making a return to top refereeing after overcoming a battle with the bottle, had an "average day" in the Tahs-Brumbies match, mostly around game management.

"He would have loved to have had far better outcomes at scrum time... and unfortunately he lost Stephen Hoiles and that's partly about Mr Hoiles and partly about Steve and he'll address why that happened."


I get the feeling that Bray saw fatprops comment and had a directive sent down to the refs. This may explain the initial held call on Hoiles (incorrect) and the disallowed try

 

[Scarfman]

Shit - Bray 1 Scarf 0.

I think he's got that 100% right.

 

[JJJ]

This is a bad outcome for Australian rugby. It really does look like the brumbies are throwing their toys out of the pram. If they'd gone for one of the refs who repeatedly burns us at the international level I could understand it, but as things stand we've just blown our national load on a fairly inoffensive ref. The Brumbies should do their talking on the field, except Mr Hoiles who should keep his trap shut. If they'd played the first 78mins remotely close to the same tempo they played the last 2 they probably would've won the match comfortably and Steve Walsh's name wouldn't have come up.

 

[RugbyReg]

So the Brumbies have stomped their little feet and got their way. Walsh now not ref for the weekend.

Anychance we Reds can do the same, throw a little hissy fit, and have George Ayoub replaced as the TMO???

 

[Scotty]

Reds get Pollack two weeks in a row. Not sure if that will benefit them though, he was very inconsistent in the game vs the Stormers. Seemed to favour them at the start, then us at the end.

 

[Tiger]

I wonder if there's a risk of this all backfiring for the Brumbies? The new ref coming in might be thinking "these little tarts treated my colleague like crap, crucified him in the media for making decisions that are perfectly defensible, then got him removed from the game". Whether (or how) that impacts the decisions in the game is a different matter entirely, but surely its not the best starting point.

 

[TheRiddler]

I wonder if there's a risk of this all backfiring for the Brumbies? The new ref coming in might be thinking "these little tarts treated my colleague like crap, crucified him in the media for making decisions that are perfectly defensible, then got him removed from the game". Whether (or how) that impacts the decisions in the game is a different matter entirely, but surely its not the best starting point.

Let's hope so my striped friend, let's just bloody well hope so.

 

[Blue]

Walsh has been dumped from the Brumby match. No reason has been given yet as to why this has happened.

Agree with it but if the Brumbies had the balls they woud step Hoiles down for what is surely the most unprofessional performance from any rugby captain in a long time. Really to tell the ref his call is rubbish, even if it is, is totaly not on.

Disappointed as he was actually one better refs this season.

Hoiles behaved like a little spoilt child.

 

[Moses]

A poor decision, I reckon Walsh is one of the best refs around. He made a few uncharacteristically bad calls on Saturday, namely some knock ons and Hoiles being held in the tackle.

How long would Dickinson or Kaplin have taken to card Hoiles for dissent? I thought Walsh gave him a pretty fair go.

Who would the donkeys get to captain if Hoiles is demoted? No alternatives really jump out..