NO BLACK MAGIC THIS TIME ROUND BUT

PLENTY TO THINK ABOUT IN 2013

David Matthews, (2012 LSH Christmas Quiz Champion), uses England’s historic win to mix a tinge of nostalgia

with some idle speculation.

As the elation of an unforgettable England victory against New Zealand brought the curtain down on 2012, did you realise that amidst the excitement there was hardly a word about the referee George Clancy? Short of high praise (Brian Moore did go so far as to describe him as “otherwise excellent” when raising an issue about England not being awarded the scrum put in while going forward) the greatest acclaim a referee can reasonably expect is not to be mentioned at all. How often do you ask what a referee was like, to receive the reply “bloody awful”? If you get an answer like “he was alright, didn’t really notice him,” that probably means he gave a splendid performance.

In such a compelling encounter as the one witnessed at Twickenham, with six tries scored in a breathless second half, there was one incident that might have attracted more attention had it been a low scoring contest; it occurred just prior to the first New Zealand try as they visibly moved up a gear straight after half time. A couple of the television pundits felt that England had been “wrongly” penalised for entering the ruck on the wrong side as an All Black attack gathered momentum; the penalty led to the first five points. It would have been as unreasonable to dwell on that, had the score line been much closer, as it was to blame Chris Robshaw for the ‘do we or don’t we’ go for the penalty goals debate in the narrow defeats by Australia and South Africa. The penalty count in the New Zealand game was 11 conceded by the hosts, 13 by the visitors which is about the average for an international match, but was anyone bothered?

The action may well have unfolded at a cracking pace, making life a lot easier for the referee, but give him credit for accurately interpreting the patterns of play; in another pair of hands it just might have been a different story. It’s time for a whiff of nostalgia now to reinforce the point. One of my own most memorable games was in 1993 when, during a longer UK tour in which the All Blacks lost only their final match (15-9 to England!), I refereed their opening game across the border against the South of Scotland at Gala. Certain press predictions that they would be put to the test following earlier straightforward wins in England didn’t quite work out; the All Blacks romped to an 84-5 demolition with one of the most clinically efficient, entertaining displays it has been my privilege to referee.

Most gratifying for me were two observations on the game, and please pardon the conceit! The first came in the legendary Bill McLaren’s commentary with about five minutes remaining, “ And isn’t the penalty count marvellous, just nine in the entire game.” The second came post match from the New Zealand tour manager, “It’s the fourth time David has been involved in our games on this tour and we would be pleased for him to referee us anywhere in the world.” So, I know exactly how George Clancy would likely to have been feeling and who knows? England have become realistic World Cup 2015 contenders and if Ireland don’t make it, maybe a familiar face could be in charge of the final.