Who's In Charge Here? A New Zealander Praises Wayne Barnes

In what is thought to be a world first, New Zealander Jamie Wall offers praise to English referee Wayne Barnes for the way he controlled the All Blacks’ first test against Wales.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I don’t actually have so much of a problem with Wayne Barnes overturning the forward pass that cost TJ Perenara’s a try in Saturday’s test match between the All Blacks and Wales. In fact, I can honestly say I don’t have much of a problem with Wayne Barnes at all… it was nine years ago, people.

Did he get the call wrong? Almost certainly. World Rugby’s definition of a forward pass is somewhat confusing for the average fan, but it’s something a guy who is paid to understand rugby’s confusing rules should understand. So Barnes isn’t completely lacking culpability here.

But let’s give the man some credit, by overriding the TMO he actually took responsibility for a call. It’s a rare event in the realm of rugby refereeing these days, an occupation which severely lacks accountability and promotes confusion on a game-by-game basis.

Barnes isn’t the first ref to pull rank this season. Nigel Owens, everyone’s favourite wise-cracking Welshman, awarded a try to English prop Dan Cole against France in the Six Nations despite the TMO getting in his ear and suggesting that he check the replay for obstruction. A clearly annoyed Owens took one look at it and re-awarded the try.

The difference between the two cases is that while Owens was pestered by the voice in his earpiece, Barnes deliberately sought out the advice from the man upstairs, then ignored it. But then, in every other game, the TMO’s decision is final. So this really does beg the question, who is actually in charge of a game of rugby these days?

Owens and Barnes now do whatever they like, while other refs still seem beholden to the TMO. So a test match reffed by them essentially has a different set of rules than the others.

The confusing state of affairs isn’t helped by the referees’ worldwide governing body having no clear definition of it either. Throw in the ability of assistant referees to get in and actually be able to tell the ref to dish out cards and it suddenly gets murkier.

It’s fair enough to make time-keeping a duty for someone else, but surely the guy out on the field should have the final say on matters involving everything else, whether that decision is right or wrong.

So that’s why Barnes isn’t just off the hook for a bad call, he should be given a pat on the back for his handling of the issue. Perhaps now other refs can follow his lead and take charge of the matters that used to be in their own hands anyway, and not even that long ago.