Ref Watch: Who will be given the task of rugby's grandest contest?
Could we end up with a New Zealand versus England World Cup final?
Given that Steve Borthwick’s misfiring team will first need to reverse their 2019 final defeat against a South African side who played superbly to see off hosts France it seems unlikely.
However it is possible and if so, in addition to surprise finalists, we may also have a very unexpected World Cup final referee.
With Jaco Peyper probably ruled out by injury – although this is not yet confirmed – and Wayne Barnes plus Ben O’Keeffe ineligible due to their nationalities, of the four quarter-final referees France’s Mathieu Raynal would be the last man standing.
I am reliably informed that World Rugby’s post-pool stage pecking order had the four number one touch judges appointed to the quarter finals as their fifth to eighth ranked referees behind Barnes, Peyper, O’Keeffe and Raynal.
Of these Karl Dickson, Matthew Carley and Paul Williams are also ineligible on nationality grounds which leaves Australian Nic Berry as the next best option to Raynal. Interestingly Berry and Raynal were two of the three referees who took charge of test matches in the 2021 Lions series.
More probably New Zealand will play South Africa with Wayne Barnes in charge and Raynal on the touchline but never say never…
Prior to then don’t be surprised if Barnes is given a rest from next weekend’s semi-finals to ensure he doesn’t follow Peyper to the physio’s room ahead of the final.
My best guess therefore is that Raynal will take charge of New Zealand v Argentina with O’Keeffe whistling England v South Africa.
South Africa v France
Anyone fortunate enough to have Stade de France tickets for both Saturday and Sunday’s quarter-finals has been treated to an amazing weekend of rugby.
From a refereeing perspective, the biggest eye-catcher from South Africa’s win over the hosts was the incredible discipline shown by both sides who conceded only six penalties apiece plus the yellow card shown to Eben Etzebeth.
An all-Kiwi officiating team enjoyed a generally sound night with there probably being only one major talking point at the end of the tightest possible encounter.
This came 12 minutes from time when France kicked off following Etzebeth’s try and ended up conceding a penalty on halfway after the ball went loose and they killed it on the ground when in retreat.
English TV coverage focused on the breakdown penalty – which with multiple hands on the ball could have gone either way before O’Keeffe rewarded Kwagga Smith. But prior to that was there a knock-on by Deon Fourie which took the ball out of Antoine Dupont’s grasp?
Since Handre Pollard then turned the penalty into three points with a mighty thump of his right boot and France ultimately came up short by one point these were clearly key calls which hopefully were reviewed ‘behind the scenes’ by the TMO.
Keep the ref posted
There were a handful of really creative ideas in both teams’ game plans and it set me wondering whether O’Keeffe had been made aware beforehand of some of their planned innovations?
For example, when France added centre Jonathan Danty to the front of a third-minute lineout they had nine forwards and three lifting pods which is legal but also slightly unusual.
And when South Africa’s Damian Willemse called a mark late in the first half the Springboks promptly exercised their right (under law 20) to take a scrum instead of a free kick. Presumably, this was influenced by a feeling that their front row were getting on top – a scrum penalty subsequently confirmed this as a good choice – but this was a very unusual option to take inside their own 22.
Clearly you would expect an international referee to interpret these situations correctly despite seeing them for the first time in the red-hot cauldron of a game being played at 90 mph. However, by quietly telling him what might happen beforehand teams take away any possibility of O’Keeffe being caught out by their innovative approach.
Faffing About
South Africa’s bench proved the difference between these two outstanding teams and it was their replacement scrum-half Faf de Klerk that created a situation which I thought O’Keeffe handled superbly.
With the Springboks piling pressure on the tournament hosts the former Sale no.9 collected the ball at the base of the breakdown four minutes from time and fired it directly at a French player who was still on the ground a couple of metres behind him following the previous phase.
Clearly this was an attempt to ‘buy’ a penalty which would have given the Boks three easy points at a vital point in the match – but instead it proved a waste of good attacking possession since O’Keeffe promptly told de Klerk that he was not interested and gave a scrum.
Clever play or sharp practice…take your choice, but for me it was great to see this handled so firmly.
Comments on RugbyPass
It is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
30 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
30 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
30 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
30 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
30 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
30 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
30 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
30 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to comments