In the Honours - Ed Morrison fully deserves his New Year Award

David Matthews describes a magnificent career

In the New Year’s Honours List’  former England International Referee Ed Morrison was awarded an OBE; it was difficult to imagine anyone in the world of rugby more deserving of this recognition. He would almost certainly rate, as the pinnacle of his refereeing career, the appointment to referee the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg. Such was the build-up and nature of this dramatic final that several years ago a successful film was made, “Invictus”. There was speculation among the referees, as a distinguished cast was drawn up, as to who would be playing the part of Ed. We never did find out!

Having become England’s first full time referee, he retired and succeeded Colin High in becoming Head of the Elite Referees’ Unit. On stepping down from this position in 2014 he worked as Referee Commissioner for the Pro12 League to add yet another string to his bow. In the many meetings/conferences that he must have chaired over the years he has often brought discussion to an end with the ‘use of common sense’ being referred to. Indeed that was the foundation of his own refereeing success, so it was no surprise when he recently commented that the amendments to the breakdown laws are causing an upset to the balance of the game: such is the extensive television coverage that it is not unusual to watch a team build up thirty to forty phases of play while the opposition struggles to compete for possession.     Without a contest for possession, try scoring in the Premiership has soared to an all-time average high of 5.9 tries per game. Television broadcasters, of course, love this and so the vicious circle leading to giving the TV companies what they want begins.

Teams are reluctant to commit too many players to the breakdown because, if they fail to win the ball their opponents will have the space to attack. Hence, a game of patience unfolds, with either a mistake from the side in possession or an infringement by the defending team eventually bringing play to a halt. The whole concept of a scrap for the ball following a tackle seems to have disappeared, leaving the side with the ball to grind it out.

In the same interview that Ed Morrison was proclaiming his views on this controversial area of the game he also made it known that the standard of refereeing at the top in England was as high as it has ever been. There is no reason to disagree because a system which began to gather momentum under his regime as Head of the Elite Unit is now producing young and talented referees capable of taking the highest level of game. The preparation has been meticulous and as referees move into the top bracket  there is genuine evidence of succession planning.

Back a few years, to the beginning of Ed’s rise to the International Panel, the late, much respected Adviser Brian Leigh remarked that when he  first watched him, referee Liverpool St.Helens v Saracens, he felt that he had witnessed ‘something a bit special.’ Sure enough he had, and the legacy and influence is set to continue.

DWM 24/1/2018 (10)