1
'What's he on?' - Andy Goode calls out TMO Ben Skeen after latest shocker
Former England flyhalf Andy Goode has called out TMO Ben Skeen, the television match official behind some of the Rugby World Cup’s most controversial calls.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite seizing the upper hand in the opening 15 minutes, the Wallabies were unable to contain England who pulled away to a 40-16 victory with a pair of tries in each half.
However, one potential try that was referred to TMO Skeen left many scratching their heads.
In the lead up to a disallowed Wallabies try, Skeen called a pass as ‘not obviously’ forward. Match referee Jerome Garces quickly corrected him, saying that it was “obviously forward”.
It wasn’t missed by Goode. “Ben Skeen saying that pass was ok! What’s he on?!”
https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/1185481679722430474
The Tweet received over 1700 likes.
https://twitter.com/RavWilding/status/1185482791678545920
https://twitter.com/Specsavers/status/1185497693977747456
https://twitter.com/EricAnbo/status/1185485527715155969
https://twitter.com/RossiHancock/status/1185481695845343232
https://twitter.com/mattkeanebutler/status/1185483089734180865
Ben Skeen is on crack! #ENGvAUS #RugbyWorldCup
— T T-M (@theboy2306) October 19, 2019
Skeen came in for a lot of criticism during the pool stages of the tournament.
Former All Black coach Hart described Skeen’s performance as TMO in the Australia-Wales game as “tedious and ridiculous”.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Let the referees judge on what they see,” he said.
“In the Australia v Wales game, the interference from the TMO was tedious and ridiculous. The referee was losing his control … it was in the hands of the TMO.
“I wouldn’t often agree with Michael Cheika but I do think the refs have become spooked because of the publicity and pressure they are under in decision making.”
This is beyond rugby! #AUSvWAL #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/o1PJlqXXXs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 29, 2019
Former Wallaby Phil Kearns also took a pop at Skeen’s decision making.
“The whole referring display has been disgraceful, not only by Romain Poite but by Ben Skeen as well,” Kearns said on Fox Sports after Australia and Wales’ pool encounter.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It was just embarrassing that the referee hasn’t gone back to look how far, he’s even two-meters in front of his own defensive line that are moving up, that’s an embarrassment.”
Jim Hamilton breaks down who he thinks will win in Sunday’s clash between Wales and France in the Rugby World Cup Quarter final.
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’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.
33 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
33 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
33 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.
33 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. 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.
33 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.
33 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.
1 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.
33 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.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to comments