Ref report cards - rating Luke Pearce's Scotland vs Italy performance
With Japan 2019 looming into view, the Six Nations offers a last opportunity for players to press their case for selection.
This is also the case for the match officials, a number of whom retain realistic ambitions of following in the footsteps of Kerry Fitzgerald, Derek Bevan, Ed Morrison, Andre Watson, Alain Rolland, Craig Joubert and Nigel Owens in taking charge of a World Cup final.
For World Rugby’s five-strong match official selection committee, including manager Joel Jutge, performances in the Northern Hemisphere’s elite competition will therefore be under close scrutiny.
And with each of this year’s 15 matches being under the control of a different referee, the contenders have only one chance to impress.
Former Birmingham Mail and Coventry Telegraph rugby correspondent Paul Smith took charge of the whistle at more than 800 matches – here is his assessment of the first weekend’s officials.
Scotland 33-20 Italy – referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Management and Communication
While lacking the gravitas of some of his more experienced colleagues, Pearce is clear and concise and has an approachable but firm manner.
However, like Wayne Barnes in the France v Wales clash, he was unable to communicate with Italy in their own language. Indeed, while Barnes attempted a few French phrases, Pearce spoke entirely in English.
This may well have played a part in Blair Kinghorn’s first try where the ball emerged on the Italian side of a ruck and Pearce advised the players “the ball is out”. Scotland reacted quicker, stole possession on the ground and eventually sent the Edinburgh winger over via Finn Russell’s kick pass.
In-match Refereeing Trends
Pearce will have been aware that Scotland’s preferred approach requires a supply of quick breakdown ball, but Italy caused few problems in this area where they only transgressed on three occasions.
The scrum caused the Englishman most of his in-match difficulties, with several of the first-half set-pieces requiring multiple resets. Pearce’s warnings included: “We’re not going to mess around like the last two scrums” then later “we’re here to play rugby not reset scrums”.
Italy were penalised four times at the scrum and Scotland twice, with the issues becoming less acute as time progressed.
Key Moments
With the assistance of the TMO, Pearce speedily ruled out Grant Gilchrist’s possible third-minute score for a double movement, while technology also correctly identified Stuart Hogg’s fingertip touchdown early in the second half.
He was also unwilling to allow Scotland close out the game at their own tempo, quickly and clearly warning them about multiple infringements in their own 22 then stepping in to deal with Simon Berghan’s maul collapse with the minimum of fuss – “last one up gets the card”.
World Cup?
Pearce is less polished and also less accurate in his decision making than some of his more experienced colleagues, but did nothing in this game to harm his prospects of being in Japan.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments