Ref Watch: To man manage or march ten metres?
This weekend’s action has sparked plenty of comment across the rugby world after two leading referees took totally different approaches to dealing with the same problem.
I can already hear cynics remarking ‘nothing unusual about that’ but for once rather than highlighting a difference in law interpretation these incidents reminded us there is plenty of truth in the phrase ‘different strokes for different folks.’
It was the thorny and growing problem of player verbals which was front and centre in both the United Rugby Championship derby between the Bulls and the Sharks in Durban and English rugby’s latest head-to-head between Exeter and Saracens.
Experienced South African referee Jaco Peyper was at the centre of the first incident where Springbok hookers Bismarck du Plessis and Bongi Mbonambi had an ongoing and increasingly hostile verbal battle with each other and the officials.
Then rising star Luke Pearce had to deal with dissent from Sarries’ England no.8 Billy Vunipola who was frustrated by the award of a breakdown penalty against his team.
The Peyper Incident
The South African derby was just under 30 minutes old when Peyper tired of the endless verbal hostility coming from the two hookers.
He opted to stop the game and – as befits an official of his huge experience – deliver a very calm lecture in which he asked them to show some respect.
He also reminded them both of their responsibilities as role models within the sport in South Africa.
“I know you’re both good players and Springboks, but please come back to your values,” he said.
Laying down the law ?
Things are getting heated between Bongi and Bismarck and Jaco Peyper asks both hookers to 'come back to the values".
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— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) December 3, 2021
The Pearce Incident
Three minutes fewer had elapsed in the Gallagher Premiership clash when Pearce awarded a penalty to Exeter following their strong counter-ruck.
Vunipola was then marched back ten metres for making a comment to the referee, then when he continued to argue, the mark was advanced a further ten metres.
Pearce told Saracens’ co-captain Alex Goode: “This player has an option, if he does that again he’s gone” after which Jackson Wray and Maro Ijoje are both seen to speak to their no.8.
Luke Pearce is taking absolutely no prisoners this afternoon.
Behave yourselves, lads.#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/g3TVl7QqPF
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 4, 2021
Timing
The first point to make about these two incidents is around their timing. Both matches were in the second quarter when the referees intervened by which time the tone for the rest of the game is becoming set.
Both contests were distinctly feisty in nature with plenty of opinions being expressed towards the officials. As a referee, if you fail to deal with this and nip the problem in the bud it only gets worse which potentially leaves you dealing with a bigger problem later in the game.
By clearly putting down an acceptable-behaviour-level marker and transferring responsibility and pressure to the players and captains Pearce and Peyper therefore gave themselves room for manoeuvre later in the day.
Had they subsequently needed to escalate to a yellow card following further verbal, criticism would then have been directed at the guilty player, who had disregarded the earlier warning, rather than the ref being accused of producing a rabbit out of a hat at a crucial late stage in a close game.
Preparation
Social media often questions the extent to which players ‘have their card marked’ before they go on the field. The answer to this is in many ways obvious – prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Match officials always take the field with an open mind hoping for a straightforward, controversy-free 80 miutes. Being unseen in a high-scoring match with very few penalties and no yellow or red cards is the perfect day.
However, when you are entering a game with history, or taking charge of players who are known to push the envelope by trying to swing a decision or two in their favour with a few well-placed words (or in some cases a running commentary!) it would be negligent not to prepare.
Officials will therefore run through a few scenarios in their minds, perhaps visualising what they will say or do to restore discipline or quieten players who on previous occasions have caused them problems. Without ruining too many after-dinner speeches, a few of the greatest off-the-cuff lines delivered by prominent former referees were probably not that spontaneous!
To manage or to march?
Critics and supporters of both the Peyper and Pearce approaches have emerged on social media where it is interesting to note how many yearn for a return to the days when only the captain spoke to the referee.
In truth a blanket ban on all interaction would not be that helpful since a few well-chosen words can really help the flow of the game.
The key to this dialogue is timing and the manner in which it is delivered. Pick a break in play and have an occasional quiet word and most refs will respond sympathetically – or at least listen to a player’s point.
“Can you have a look at the offside line please ref,” might seem ridiculously obvious, but it might also draw attention to something which would cause frustration and a bigger problem later in the game if unmanaged. This approach also gives the referee the opportunity to go back to the player a few minutes later with a response – maybe a simple “everything looks fine to me but I’ll keep looking” – which sends a positive message about his/her willingness to engage when approached in the right way.
By contrast, screaming at the officials while play is going on really isn’t going to get you far. Constant criticism or ‘you must be joking’ type truculence is also usually a quick route to the naughty step.
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Similarly – and think about three British & Irish Lions no.10’s of recent vintage with this one – endless hostility accompanied by a running one-eyed commentary is irritating to everyone, and potentially also the cause of a flashpoint should opponents mistakenly think it is having some effect.
The Pearce approach and the Peyper method are therefore not mutually exclusive – rather than either/or for officials of their quality it is a bit of both starting with the management option.
Without being able to hear every word Pearce spoke to Saracens and Exeter before and during the opening half-hour it is impossible to trace the escalation process which ended with Vunipola twice being marched back ten metres.
But what we can be sure about is that a referee would normally ask for a behaviour change on more than one occasion, potentially involving the captain on a more formal basis, before resorting to blasting the whistle and marching back ten metres.
Since the next stage is a yellow card, by the time the double-penalty happened Saracens will almost certainly therefore already have missed an opportunity or three to bite their tongues.
From Mark McCall’s post-match reaction it seems likely that French official Tual Trainini will enjoy a much quieter afternoon than Pearce managed when he takes charge of Sarries’ encounter with Edinburgh next weekend.
And if learning from Peyper and Pearce and reading about this response from Sarries’ boss helps a few lower-level officials have a more enjoyable experience with the whistle our sport is the winner.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments