Ref Watch: Is it time to look at a Law phrase change?
Ireland’s Andrew Brace who took charge of England’s second test win in Australia is one of a fairly large group of referees hoping to clinch a spot alongside some more experienced and better-known names at next year’s World Cup.
As someone with an understated approach, at times he appears to lack the management and communication skills which mark out the very best. However, neither Brace nor his support team – in which TMO Joy Neville was prominent – did much wrong during this high-profile contest and as a result they should look back on a quietly efficient display with some satisfaction.
Lucky Ellis
When Neville drew Brace’s attention to Ellis Genge pushing his forearm into Nic White’s face then throat on the ground, there was little doubt that Australia were getting a penalty.
However, given the totally unnecessary nature of this piece of ‘roughing’ and that it happened in the 15th minute and thus gave the referee a perfect opportunity to put down an early marker, the outgoing Leicester captain can count himself as extremely fortunate not to receive a yellow card.
Given that Brace then had to march Australia back ten metres for some backchat following the award of a scrum penalty to England just three minutes later it seems likely that a sense of injustice had also permeated their ranks.
Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | |
Pens against Australia | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Pens against England | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Time for a Law book phrase change?
While the term ‘deliberate knock-on’ has been in the law book forever, am I alone in thinking that it has become very misleading?
Like many others I struggle with the interpretation which insists that almost every one-handed knock-on is deemed deliberate and penalised. Plenty of good ball players are entirely capable of holding on to a rugby ball with one hand, albeit I accept that using one hand allows them to stretch further and by doing so they are sometimes beyond the point where they have adequate control of what is happening due to their lack of balance.
YELLOW CARD – AUSTRALIA! ?
Perese went for the interception but he's deemed to have deliberately knocked the ball on resulting in a 10 minute sin bin.
Farrell does the business off the tee again and punishes Australia! ? #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/nnKezwUwq4
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 9, 2022
For me this is an area – like advantage – where the referee should be allowed to use his/her discretion. In trying to be consistent, and have a black-and-white guideline which is easy to understand, World Rugby has created a different problem.
Of course, once a penalty offence is committed, it can lead to a yellow card and sometimes a penalty try following depending on its context, position on the field etc. Thus, under law as written, while Jonny Hill’s clumsy two-handed knock-on earned the non-offending team a scrum, Izana Perese’s failed one-handed intercept earned him ten minutes in the bin since he was the last defender. A minute shift in fortune would have seen the Wallaby replacement race to England’s posts since he was definitely attempting to pick the pass off. His knock-on was anything but deliberate.
YELLOW CARD ENGLAND!
Smith is the man to be handed the card after a deliberate knock-on in the line and both the referee and TMO penalise him for it.
Australia cut the deficit again! ? #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/1b8qfkuZ10
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 9, 2022
Marcus Smith later also saw yellow for a reflex one-handed knock-down which he never had any chance of regaining and few would argue with this outcome.
I would therefore require the referee to assess the difference between a deliberate knock-down – such as Smith’s – and a failed interception attempt such as that with which Perese almost stole possession, with one being penalised and the other reverting to being a scrum to the opposition. It’s less black-and-white but much fairer than the current approach.
Management style
While the level at which the ref and TMO microphones were set made it difficult to pick up the detail of every conversation, Brace is certainly at the more passive, minimalist end of the refereeing scale when it comes to communication.
Of course, not everyone likes the Nigel Owens or Wayne Barnes approach which they deem as being too verbose. However, we are all left in no doubt about what is going on and why, and the players are clear about who is in charge.
I will leave the debate about the narrow line between coaching and refereeing for another day, while I totally accept that the sport should be about the players not the officials.
When directly challenged with some verbals in the first half, Brace marched the Wallabies back ten metres – a measure from the past which too few referees now use. I also enjoyed the firm tone with which he admonished White: “I can’t have players running at me, you’re not the captain” when the home no.9 argued with a penalty call.
He’s just a bit too reactive for my taste – but if it works for him and the players who am I to criticise?
Scrum penalties
In commentary, former England prop David Flatman disagreed with a key scrum penalty awarded against England tight head Will Stuart. From the subsequent kick Australia gained the field position from which they scored their opening try.
At professional level where players are very strong and well coached, and lots of effort goes into influencing the officials, the scrum is notoriously difficult to referee. As a result, I am increasingly coming round to the view taken by the French officials, who tend to reward the side going forward when the set-piece fails, almost regardless of how they have achieved this upper hand.
In this specific instance, it appeared that Brace received a call from touch judge Craig Evans, which puts him a doubly difficult position. When the referee is unsure of what has caused a scrum to fail, the easiest route out is to reset it. However, to do this is here meant disregarding advice given by his colleague, who according to protocol should be 100 per cent certain before intervening.
Often trends become obvious across a game, and sometimes that makes it possible for the officials to have a conversation at half-time or during a break in play and work out what is causing the scrum problems. Brace and his team had no such chance here since the first half contained only four scrums and Australia fed them all.
In all honesty, front row forwards involved sometimes have no idea why a scrum has collapsed. It is a minefield and the best you can say to both the referee and his touch judge – who was seemingly at fault here – is if you’re not certain don’t guess.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ardie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
11 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
11 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
11 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
11 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
8 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
8 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
11 Go to comments