Ref Watch: Scotland right to have gripes with Nic Berry's performance
Three Australian referees were appointed to this weekend’s Six Nations games and it was former Wasps scrum half Nic Berry who was the first in action.
The 37-year-old came to much greater prominence than he would have wanted during the summer when he was the subject of Rassie Erasmus’ infamous video rant after the Springboks lost the opening test of the British & Irish Lions series.
He got things back on track during the Autumn Series and with confidence restored played his role in this entertaining round two Six Nations game in Cardiff.
Berry certainly likes the game to flow, which makes for an entertaining spectacle, but also means there are a lot more bodies on the ground at the breakdown than is often the case.
He will also look back on three yellow card decisions – one which he gave and two which he didn’t – and reflect on the process by which he arrived at decisions not all of which will meet with universal approval.
Stuart Hogg Yellow Card?
A breathless opening saw Wales absorb loads of pressure then break out before Stuart Hogg ended a move with a midfield knock-on.
Berry gave a scrum, but as Nigel Owens observed in commentary plenty of other referees would have seen this very differently.
Should Hogg have been carded for this? pic.twitter.com/oZO1eWgcMs
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) February 12, 2022
The fact that Hogg’s arm is swinging into a tackle does not absolve him of blame.
For me his intervention ended a promising Wales attack in a broken-field situation with support around the ball carrier.
A deliberate knock-on does not automatically translate into a yellow card, but for me this was a penalty offence and due to the situation was also worthy of ten minutes in the sin bin.
Finn Russell Yellow Card
This was excellent teamwork from the officials since Berry saw this as only a scrum advantage to Wales in real time.
However, after TMO Brett Cronan ruled that Alex Cuthbert had not grounded the ball in the corner he quickly told Berry that he needed to take a second look at the earlier offence which came as Scotland scrambled in defence following a long Dan Biggar penalty which rebounded from the posts.
The key factors which then earned Scotland’s no.10 a yellow card were that he had little chance of holding on the ball following his one-handed interception attempt and in Berry’s words: “His proximity to his own line.”
Former Scotland no.10 Ruairidh Jackson noted: “If Lewis doesn’t hit Russell’s arm when he tries to catch it he has a chance to catch it. Knock on or penalty max. To yellow card the guy there is brutal.”
If Lewis doesn’t hit Russell’s arm when he tries to catch it he has a chance to catch it. Knock on or penalty max. To yellow card the guy there is brutal
— Ruaridh Jackson (@ruaridh_jackson) February 12, 2022
Darcy Graham Tackle
With Berry playing penalty advantage to Wales, Scotland’s try-scoring winger tip-tackled Owen Watkin on the left wing. The Wales centre’s left leg clearly went beyond the horizontal but Graham did then put him safely to the ground where he landed on his back.
For me Berry got this exactly right – it was worthy of only a penalty and the mark would have been less central than that from which Dan Biggar kicked three easy points.
Game Management
Berry displayed some smart game management when issuing Scotland with a warning shortly before Tomas Francis claimed the home side’s opening try.
At the point that the whistler spoke to Stuart Hogg both sides had conceded five penalties and the visitors’ infringements were well spaced.
However, Berry identified that four of the penalties awarded against Scotland had been in their own 22 and that all emanated from the tackle area.
In the heat of a test match maintaining this level of awareness and composure was impressive.
The Devil’s in the Detail
When Graham claimed a high ball on the hour mark he was immediately engulfed by the Welsh kick chase and a maul ensued.
The crowd groaned with disappointment when Scotland were given the put-in to the scrum which resulted, but Berry was spot-on in law.
Because the Scottish winger was immediately engulfed he is deemed to have no opportunity to play the ball so his team keep possession at the restart.
Penalty Count
Where Wales last week went 50 minutes without winning a penalty during their defeat by Ireland, seven days later the penalty count finished 8-13 in their favour.
The key aspect of this was that the visitors lost the second half penalty battle 2-8, saw Russell sent to the sin bin and as a result in a tight match lost momentum and territory as a result.
Late drama! Should Taine Basham have seen red for his tackle on Sam Skinner?#bbcrugby #WALvSCO
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 12, 2022
Taine Basham Tackle
Wales had a heart-in-mouth moment late on when the TMO drew Berry’s attention to Basham’s high hit on Sam Skinner.
After a series of reviews the officials decided there was evidence that Basham had tried to wrap an arm, that the first point of contact was on the shoulder and that Skinner dropped in height immediately prior to the tackle.
As a result the infringement was deemed worthy of only a penalty.
On another day this would have been a yellow card offence but while it may be looked at by the citing officer it seems unlikely that more action will follow unless he deems it worthy of a red card.
Comments on RugbyPass
The evidence is not strong that this is necessary. Mounga choked on clutch kicks in the WRC final and lost the match by not performing his core goal kicking role to the level required. He also choked in the Semi final against England and was targeted as the weak point in the defence allowing them to score. Not a test great frankly. Why bend the rules for a player that is competent but not brilliant at test level?
11 Go to commentsDear Robbie, Please return to the Crusaders next season. Sincerely, Scott
1 Go to commentsDid the big E call the Irish the ‘White Can’ts’? That would’ve been good
29 Go to commentsDalton Papalii will be lucky to be selected on the Matchday 23. Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, and Peter Lauki are all as good or better openside flankers
9 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a lock and they have a much longer shelf life than a loose forward. Far more likely that Barrett will still demand a starting position based on performance at age 33 at RWC 2027 than Savea, whose explosive athleticism will have declined and he will in all likelihood have been surpassed by Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Siti, Peter Lauki and Brayden Iose.
9 Go to commentsExtremely frustrating to get yet more speculation over whether or not Eben actually counted 12 players or not, but honestly big respect to McCloskey for keeping it classy and not pointing out Etzebeth’s hypocrisy. The Irish are a popular team outside of Ireland because they do their talking on the pitch, and its honestly a PR masterclass that they’re keeping it that way following Etzebeth’s provocation.
29 Go to commentsGood option for the lineout lost there.
1 Go to commentsIt’s not like Saffas have a long history of spouting absolute shite at any & every occasion. Oh wait… The dangers of an inferior third world education strike again.
29 Go to commentsI’m so glad we’re revisiting this. Really needs to be dissected further. I’m also so glad that a guy in the stands who wasn’t anywhere near the field when any of it would have been said (and even confirms this) has taken the lead and commented as Ireland. Definitely cleared it all up. This article would be hilarious if it wasn’t so misleading.
29 Go to commentsits such a shame he hasn’t achieved more success at club level. He’s really not been a potent finisher for a while now, but he’s still excellent in the kick chase. That’s the kind of skillset that generally only gets appreciated when you’re playing in premiership and european finals. I’m not sure whether the challenge cup counts given the quality of the competition seems lower than in previous years, but his duel with Mapimpi should be enthralling.
1 Go to commentsThe point is the irish players were arrogant,call it like you want sugar coat it aswell but they were you could see it in their way they handeled themselfs on the field when they got something right so dont tell me it was not arrogance it was,you can fool other people but not me,and to say to one of our players see you in the final put a nail in the coffin for this bullsh@t,just be grown men and accept it that you were arrogant,you could if seen it from a mile away, and then you lost to the allblacks what a cocky move that didnt work out for you ,Eben was right when he said u were arrogant,the point is you will deny it because you lost it all just grow some balls and move on we had won you lost accept it.
29 Go to comments“summer tour of North and South America” so its a summer tour of america?
1 Go to commentsEverybody is giving the Irish players the benefit of the doubt in ‘what they meant’, but none of these pundits or commentators offer the same courtesy to Eben. I don’t think Eben went, 1, 2, 3… etc. What might have happened is he didn’t count and when the 3rd or 5th guy said he went, hang on why are so many of them saying this… and then started to concentrate on it more and more as players continue to say it. So no, he didn’t count it, he realised many Irish players said it and made an assumption based on that… The Irish team was VERY confident at the time and I do believe they believed they were going to win the World Cup, which borders a bit on the arrogant side…
29 Go to commentsI can see how some of the Irish players would have said”see you in the final” as a gentle comment after a victory. It’s open to interpretation but it’s clumsy language. I don’t know the fella but I assure you Eben doesn’t have an axe to grind with Ireland. He has never been the media seeking pro. Oh and BTW it is I’ll be our winter in July so won’t be wet.
29 Go to comments*McCloskey*: _I saw this clip. Like, I wasn’t playing that game; I was in the stands…so you don't know sh!t in other words, infact you know just as much as Goode on this matter. I will believe the guy who was on the pitch when things were said as appose to two people speculating over what was said._
29 Go to comments@ turlough dream on buddy. Your boys are in for one tough time down in sa this summer…
29 Go to commentsI think Goode is looking to establish a platform for himself. Eben said “Probably” so that suggests he wasn’t counting. It’s an estimate Goode. I think even with your short and uneventful experience with the Sharks you probably realise winding up Saffas will get you some airtime. It’s a none event. Move on
29 Go to commentsRugby has never been as structured and synthetically pleasing as it is at this moment. The game is simply beautiful and messing with it too much will ruin it for everyone. I can't help but feel that over the past decade or so many rules have been changed to accommodate a certain hemisphere and counter another. Perhaps I am wrong but I somehow don’t think so.
2 Go to commentsNoted some excellent defensive steals from the Rebs last week against the Reds, largely J Canham, I think. It’s not a Rolls Royce but they are a real threat with their defensive line out at the beginning matches. What do you make of Canham Nick, WBs squad material?
86 Go to commentsCoin flip between Ardie and Scott Barrett. Both have their pros and cons, and both would probably be decent. Ardie has way more passion on the field, but that hasn’t always translated into the best decisions. They will both turn 34 at the next World Cup, so both will most likely have their best days a few years behind them. It’s hard to imagine now, but looking at young players coming through Ardie will probably be under the most pressure to retain his place in the team. Beauden Barrett also an outside chance if Razor sees him as the first choice 10.
9 Go to comments