When One Door 'Partly' Closes, Another One Opens.

World Cup Rugby Got It Right!

I wonder just how many of the critics who bemoaned the time being wasted by the use of the TMO Protocol on the opening round of the Rugby World Cup were amongst those who, after the dramatic end to the Scotland v Australia, switched to wanting more of it? Fickle? Not much, but the main criticism was reserved for the South African Referee, Craig Joubert.  It has to be said that he does have 'history' in three previous big games, but racing off the field at the final whistle did not endear him to the casual fan. Press headlines came in the usual temperate way, ranging from Joubert a Disgrace To The Game, to He Should Never Referee Again.

All very simple then. The ball is detected, ricocheting around in a muddle of players hitting two of the same team in quick succession. I doubt whether anyone watching live or on television, immediately picked this up but the analysis from every camera that could be found brought out a strong opinion that there was no case to be answered for offside and that Craig Joubert had committed a deadly error in awarding the penalty; result, Scotland out of the World Cup and Joubert on his way to the salt mines, the firing squad or, at best, his way home! One of the reports in his defence began with the headline Joubert Hung Out to Dry by IRB and went on to express its dismay that a single error, which did decide the game, deserved to be dealt with in this way. The game of Rugby Union Football has generally not shied away from contentious decisions and prided itself on sorting out awkward situations like this without resorting to mass press coverage. But, it has never avoided standing a Referee down prior to a forthcoming fixture after a perceived misdemeanour in his previous match whereas football and Rugby League have often been quite outspoken on some of these matters, the IRB has tended to assume a lower profile.

There has always been an underlying feeling that whilst players are open to public criticism (not entirely true), Referees and Officials should be above this, defended by a sort of Gentlemen's Code; make your mind up, is the Referee any different from the players? A number of players, referees, officials and coaches are quick to point out that they never look at what's written in the papers. I very much doubt this and rather say that there is a compulsive, masochistic urge to discover how bad you have been in the following day's newspapers!

Lest anyone thinks that the Referee does not take it all very seriously, think again. He may be resilient to the press but he would be a very hard man not to scrutinise a decision, over and over again. The suggestions put forward to assist Referees, especially in the TMO process, includes not showing a repeat of the action on the big screen at the stadium as opposed to showing what they like once the match is over. Inevitably one set of supporters will be agreeing with decisions which favour them whilst the others will be taking the opposite view.

Remember where you read this first: Nigel Owens or Wayne Barnes will be in charge of the Rugby World Cup 2015 final unless England or Wales are involved (!!!!). In a column from these pages just over a year ago both of these high-ranking officials were hotly tipped, on the basis of their individual, intelligent approach to the game. So it has turned out, with Nigel in the middle, Wayne an Assistant along with Jerome Gerces. A great reward for all those years of trips to Newcastle on a Friday night and mid week visits in the rain to Pontypridd!