REFEREES AND BIG DECISIONS GO TOGETHER LIKE BACON (BAGUETTES) AND EGGS

Ten year celebration inspires David Matthews to take another trip down memory lane

There are moments when watching televised rugby which can make you so incensed that you shout at the screen, almost on the point of hurling whatever is in hand, apple (bacon baguette in this instance) etc at the set. November 22nd 2003 was my most memorable lapse into juvenile antics. It is ten years since that wonderful World Cup victory but in the recent celebrations when Australia came to Twickenham I failed to detect any mention of an incident in the game which could have changed the face of history. . . . because England might easily have lost.

This is an extract from John Inverdale’s account in Ian Robertson’s magnificent book SWEET CHARIOT The Complete Book Of The Rugby World Cup: with normal playing time almost up and England leading 14-11, “England with one hand on the cup. A scrum goes down. Referee Andre Watson blows. Not a penalty? Not to the Wallabies? Why would England do that? They were in complete control of the scrummage.” Millions of viewers must have asked the same question as the game moved agonisingly into extra time.

Jason Leonard, an appropriate choice for RFU President in World Cup year 2015, goes on to say in the same book “ In the scrums Trevor and Phil were doing nothing wrong, but were being penalised. When I came on we decided to give the ref nothing to penalise, with the effect that we were scrumming passively rather than aggressively. But it worked.” Andre Watson was very close to entering in his name in the history books in a similar way to the Russian linesman who verified England’s vital goal in their own 1966 World Cup triumph, but for the wrong reason; our South African colleague would not have been having hero status bestowed on him.

How does the phrase go? “on slender margins……” England went on to win 20-17 and, as it says on my commemorative, fading T shirt (told you I was prone to adolescent behaviour) –“The Perfect Day.” This was not quite the end of the Andre Watson story. He didn’t finish up in the Siberian Salt Mines, or whatever the South African equivalent is, he did in fact secure a top rugby job in his native country, but, how shall we say, rumours emerged later about decisions in the World Cup Final which, at the time, could easily have landed him on the front pages in the English newspapers.

Shortly before he died the great Richard Harris famously said in an interview that reminiscing on rugby, just like other aspects of life, was not to be belittled; rather, it helped to place current events in context. Which is my excuse for another not so fond recollection in a vital match. Remember the scene: 1999, Wembley, as Wales were playing home matches away from the Millennium Stadium while it was being redeveloped, all the usual trappings in the build up - Max Boyce and Tom Jones wheeled out, extra giant leeks, the Championship at stake. England lead with ten minutes to go, opt to kick a penalty to touch instead of going for goal, then face a lineout in their own half from which the ball travels to Scott Gibbs who in a kind of dream sequence (nightmare variety), ghosts round the England full back to score under the posts; Jenkins’ match winning conversion is a formality. Now, come to think of it, the Irish touch judge did have a controversial part to play in the build up but, as he is a friend of mine, shall remain nameless. Big games and referees’ decisions, they are inseparable.