SPECIAL QUALITIES NEEDED FOR TOP APPOINTMENT AT RWC 15

David Matthews looks forward to the top man getting the top job in a year’s time

England’s leading referee Wayne Barnes took charge of the South Africa v New Zealand game on Saturday, 4th October, the last of this season’s Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship. They don’t come much bigger than that and this latest one didn’t disappoint with the All Blacks’ undefeated run, stretching back to a memorable victory by England at Twickenham in December 2012, narrowly ended by the Springboks. According to The Rugby Paper “This was an outstanding match that would have opened the eyes of every other nation.” And there was not a single mention of the referee, always a sign that he had done a good job.

In twelfth month's time as World Cup 2015 draws to a close, and dependent on an appearance in the Final by England or Wales, we could be anticipating that the referee might be Wayne Barnes or Nigel Owens. Both have that special quality, have never previously refereed ‘the big one’ and even allowing for the usual politics, would surely stand a great chance of achieving that honour.

Quite a few years ago when Don Rutherford was heavily involved in the RFU regime he organised a series of meetings with the top referees designed to be of mutual value to the referees and the England management. I vividly remember our dialogue when the quality of those on the International Panel was raised and, as we searched for the right description, he neatly summed up “You mean if you were in a crowded room, something about them would stand out.” That was intended in the most complimentary way possible, something about their demeanour and confidence marking them out from the rest. At the very beginning of Ed Morrison’s rise to the top (who of course did achieve the ultimate accolade of a World Cup Final) he refereed a match between Liverpool St.Helens and Saracens on which the late Brian Leigh, always the shrewdest judge, commented that you felt you had been watching something special.

It has not all been plain sailing for Wayne Barnes, who five years ago did not endear himself to the powers that be in the IRB refereeing world. I can recall his briefing to assistants and TMO before a Friday evening game at Welford Road between Leicester v Harlequins. He announced that as a consequence of ‘advice’ from those at the top who control the referees’ destiny he would, with immediate effect, be employing ‘less of a man management’ approach. Sure enough, and refereeing straight down the line, the penalty count was over thirty for this match. I always considered it a great shame because he had earned a reputation by a unique style with which players were comfortable without excessive use of the whistle. But he did have a very short period on the second tier compiled by the IRB which temporarily kept him out of the type of game he has just enjoyed. So it was hardly a shock reaction.

Nigel Owens (who will be the Guest Speaker at the Merseyside Wooden Spoon Christmas Lunch at the Marriott Hotel in Liverpool on Friday, 5th December- see your club notice board for special offer on tickets) has refereed a sequence of high profile international games in the last few years; it is no surprise they have all been wonderfully entertaining, all with a lower than average penalty count and appreciated by players and spectators alike. He, too, manages to create an environment in which players know exactly how far they can go; if a problem does arise it is dealt with firmly but unobtrusively.

We have been thrilled by International matches in the last twelve months. Excitement is building towards the biggest sporting event staged in this country since the Olympic Games. Here are two referees with all the right credentials for the most important game there can be. Let’s hope that either Wayne Barnes or Nigel Owens is in there when that Final appointment is made.