Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Ref Watch: To man manage or march ten metres?

By Paul Smith
(Photo by Getty Images)

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Video Spacer

Zach Mercer

Video Spacer

Zach Mercer

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

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!

(Photo by Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images)

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.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

28 Go to comments
A
Adrian 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

28 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby? Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?
Search