Have you seen enough of it yet?

David Matthews admits to watching all the attractions of the World Cup.

England may well have departed RWC2015 but I am enjoying every minute of the television coverage. We had everything: excellent conditions, lively commentary, colourful presentation, some tremendous rugby and dare we say it, unobtrusive contributions from the Officials which have made the matches more enjoyable.  The boss of the referees, assistants and TMOs is Joel Jutge, who had a notable career himself on the International stage. It is interesting to wonder how much influence he has had over the referees; there have been a couple of top administrators in the past whose mark has been left on tournaments but not towards helping to create a spectacle.

Joel Jutge has, of course, managed to get three of his fellow countrymen into the elite squad but they have been picked out as rising stars ever since the 2011 World Cup. The is no doubt that the man in the middle takes his personality and reading of the game into every match; it is difficult to recall, in the games played up to the Quarter Finals any controversy which seriously affected the result. Although we have had our grumbles about the protocol involving the TMO there have not been major problems in that respect or communication between referee and his assistants. I cannot think of any issues concerning 'interference' from the assistants, because interference is what it has sometimes become in the Premiership.  Communication has generally been smooth and not interrupted the flow of the game. Teams have  responded to what the referee has required by producing some great rugby.

Considering we are seeing games, watched by huge crowds, in modern stadia with an intensity to match,  the overriding impression has been one of calmness. You may have noticed that there have, very likely been a few directives from Monsieur Jutge and his colleagues to emphasise certain points of law: coming in to ruck and maul from the wrong side, the high tackle and other forms of dangerous play, players not staying on their feet at the ruck but instead supporting their weight on an opponent and the 'tip' tackle. No one would find fault with any of these because they all assist the game to move on.  

An important feature of the modern game is that referees are able to retain their individuality in handling the eighty minutes out on the field. It does look as if this has been the case in this Tournament because there have not been any murmurs about 'robotic' refereeing. By the time you are reading this the cut off point for the selection of referees to the knockout stage of the competition will have been made. This will have been a stressful time for the men involved (both selectors and victims) because they will all be proud to be on this world stage and will be anxious to see just how far they can go.  

Amongst the anticipated legacies from the World Cup is an expectation that there will be recruitment of more referees. There is no doubt that those whose imagination has been captured will have seen the very best in action.

So, back to the television - rumbling discord in the home camp due to moaning when meals are ready, cups of tea left to go cold, unnoticed and the threat of a red card for refusal of permission to have the 'big TV' to watch Strictly! And, when half time arrives, or the end of the match, why not have a good look at the Samsung adverts involving Martin Johnson, Laurence Dallaglio and Jack Whitehall?

24/10/2015