The Wayne Barnes tweet that hasn't aged well
Referee Wayne Barnes commendably hasn’t shied away from using social media despite the massive amount of abuse received in November after he took charge of the France versus South Africa match in Marseille. That Autumn Nations Series game was the occasion when he became the world’s most capped Test referee, his 101st appointment moving him ahead of Nigel Owens.
The fallout from that game which featured two red cards turned nasty on social media, resulting in the RFU shelving plans for an on-pitch half-time presentation of a referee memento to Barnes at Twickenham a fortnight later for fear that it would be marred by booing at the England-South Africa game.
It was a few weeks after in December when the 43-year-old detailed a harrowing account on The Good, the Bad & the Rugby podcast of the direct abuse aimed at his wife Polly and the threats made to their family.
“Criticism on social media quickly becomes abuse,” said referee Barnes at the time. “That’s the world we live in. That’s social media. But I make the decision to be a referee, make the decision to be on social media. Polly, my wife, doesn’t make the decision to be a referee.
“On the Saturday night, there started to be some direct abuse at Polly. And then, the following two or three days, there was direct abuse to Polly. Threats of sexual violence and threats against the kids. To Polly and to me, direct threats about our kids. That takes it to a different level.
How does a referee decide on the degree of danger when using the head contact process in rugby union?
The turtles explain all.
Hope this helps with this weekend of @SixNationsRugby. #ThrowTheBookhttps://t.co/ujpO0eAK4f
— Wayne Barnes (@WayneBarnesRef) February 10, 2023
“When you have done 100 games, you have got a lot of experience and think you can prepare for most things. You can’t prepare for that. When I said it’s been a s***** couple of weeks, it’s been a s***** couple of weeks. It wasn’t even a line that was crossed – you have gone so far beyond it you can’t even see the line.”
Having since pulled back from contemplating quitting as a referee, law firm partner Barnes was rostered last Saturday to referee his 26th Six Nations match. Ahead of that Ireland versus France clash, he tweeted a 70-second video about the application of the head contact process in rugby.
“How does a referee decide on the degree of danger when using the head contact process in rugby union? The turtles explain all. Hope this helps with this weekend of Six Nations rugby. #ThrowTheBook.”
That tweet went on to have nearly 100,000 views after Barnes was caught up in a major talking, his 26th-minute decision to only yellow card French prop Uini Atonio for his juddering collision with Rob Herring. Before it was confirmed on Monday that Atonio was being cited and will appear at a disciplinary hearing this Wednesday, Barnes’ tweet attracted numerous responses. Below is a selection of the debate it ignited:
“This didn’t age too well Wayne.”
“Thanks, Wayne. If a player leaves the field with a brain injury following an upright no-wrap ‘tackle’, what degree of danger are they likely to have been subject to would you say? Just wondering.”
“Red all day long! Shocking decision Wayne.”
“I believe you are one of the best refs in the game, and without refs, there is no game, so maybe commenters might ease up? That all said, having reviewed the incident post-game, would you say you’re happy with yellow? Do you expect the citing commissioners to cite Antonio?”
“Tweet not aging spectacularly well after this game but still think Barnes is a fantastic ref.”
“This is a timely video, Wayne, thanks for sharing. Would love to see an updated video using the turtles as an analogy for the decision in the Ireland and France game.”
“The assistant ref’s facial expression speaks volumes.”
“The yellow card decision was completely wrong. It was the textbook definition of a red card. I think an apology and acknowledgment of the mistake are in order. Did the TMO agree with this decision?”
“Bad, bad call, if you want to look after players you can not let tackles like that go without a straight red card I’m afraid. All you can do now is learn from your mistakes.”
“Good referee you are. But you must admit the call was wrong.”
“Absolute state of the one-eyed responses to this. Well reffed, Wayne.”
“Wayne, you should probably stay off social media for a bit and take a long hard look at yourself. You had replay after replay and still came up with the wrong card! I think you’re a good ref btw but come on, you need to make these difficult calls to protect players from injury!”
“Ya may go back to playing with the turtles. You got it wrong. Definitely red. What does Leonardo or Donatello think?”
“I respect you as a ref, but today’s decision was shocking. His jaw nearly came out the other side of his mouth, and your view was a low degree of danger. And then to not immediately demand a HIA. The first job of a ref is protect the player, not keep it entertaining for TV.”
“Very little force going into the chest? Red all day. Thanks for the Lowe try, though.”
“Was high all day with no intention to reduce his body height and there was loads of force. What was frightening was the failure of the officials to demand a HIA for a clearly dazed player, but demanding one would have questioned the validity of their card decision.”
“You will need to be very creative to justify your yellow card v red card. It would be very refreshing.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’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.
18 Go to comments