Chris Pollock - Waratahs v Crusaders

the magpie


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I can't say that Chris Pollock had the best game. But he had some absolute clangers:

- Crusaders centre drops the ball on the 22, knocked on, but Crusaders play on, referee missed the knock on. The ball was moved down field, leading to a Crusaders penalty
- Referee pings Waratahs for incorrect tap, when the replays show the ball clearly leaving the Waratahs player's hand and being propelled off the boot. The ensuing scrum lead to a Crusaders penalty.
- Waratahs scrum on Warathas 22. Crusaders push the Waratahs pack back and scrum collapses - no fault. Referee awards reset to Crusaders.

These were just some of the problems with Pollack during the first half. These mistakes kept the Crusaders in the match early, until the Waratahs fell apart in the second half.
 

Phil E


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Can't comment on any of that without seeing video.
 

Ian_Cook


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I can't say that Chris Pollock had the best game. But he had some absolute clangers:

I was at this game. I agree that he made some mistakes but no more than any other referee on any given day. However to address your particular concerns...

- Crusaders centre drops the ball on the 22, knocked on, but Crusaders play on, referee missed the knock on. The ball was moved down field, leading to a Crusaders penalty
What minute of the game was this?

Did the ball go forward? Why didn't one of the ARs pick it up? They picked up a couple of others.

Perhaps none of the TO3 saw it as forward.

- Referee pings Waratahs for incorrect tap, when the replays show the ball clearly leaving the Waratahs player's hand and being propelled off the boot. The ensuing scrum lead to a Crusaders penalty.
It was not an "incorrect tap" they were pinged for. This was the incident where the Blue team confused themselves because they couldn't decide what to do, and passed the ball between them a few times. When Halangahu ended up taking the tap, it was well ahead and to the right of where the mark was, and that is what they were pulled up for.

LAW 21.2 WHERE PENALTY AND FREE KICKS ARE TAKEN
(a) The kicker must take the penalty or free kick at the mark or anywhere behind it on a line through the mark. If the place for a penalty or free kick is within 5 metres of the opponents’ goal line, the mark for the kick is 5 metres from the goal line, opposite the place of infringement.


Correct decision by Pollock.

- Waratahs scrum on Waratahs 22. Crusaders push the Waratahs pack back and scrum collapses - no fault. Referee awards reset to Crusaders.
This was not a reset. It was a new scrum. (note that it was not set where the original scrum was set, it was set where the collapsed happened.)

LAW 20.10 ENDING THE SCRUM
(a) The ball comes out. When the ball comes out of the scrum in any direction except the tunnel, the scrum ends.

(c) Hindmost player unbinds. The hindmost player in a scrum is the player whose feet are nearest the team’s own goal line. If the hindmost player unbinds from the scrum with the ball at that player’s feet and picks up the ball, the scrum ends


The Blue 8 unbound and the ball came out, two reasons that the scrum has now ended. However, this was happening while the Blue scrum was going backwards, The Red team ended up over the ball, and we now have a ruck (ball on ground and players over it in close physical contact) which then collapsed. Ruck, Red team going forward and then becomes unplayable. Scrum with Red to feed.

Correct decision by Pollock.
 

The Fat


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Pollock did miss the odd knock forward as well as 2 forward passes and a couple of blatant players going off their feet at the breakdown.
Ian's summation of the incorrectly taken tap is spot on. Waratahs were terrible in the 2nd half and would have lost no matter who was reffing. Thought Halangahu went head on in a tackle attempt midway through first half, was dazed and therefore a passenger for the rest of his time on the park. Hickey should have replaced him much earlier. Kicking for goal cost Waratahs dearly. Hope the Crusader's win provided the moral boost the locals were hoping for following recent events.
Good reality check for Waratahs as well regarding the new conference format.
 

dave_clark


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how does the new conference system work? isn't it a case of everyone plays everyone else any more?
 

Ian_Cook


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Thought Halangahu went head on in a tackle attempt midway through first half, was dazed and therefore a passenger for the rest of his time on the park.

I really thought the Tahs missed the steady hand of Berrick Barnes at 10. IMO he's the best 10 in Aussie right now, because the other teams have all caught on to Quade Cooper's poncy footwork, without that, he ain't much of a 10. Cooper has been mowed down this season so far almost as often as he was for the whole of last season.

how does the new conference system work? isn't it a case of everyone plays everyone else any more?

REGULAR SEASON
► Everyone plays everyone else in the own conference twice, once at home, once away. Total 8 matches

► Everyone plays four of the five teams in each of the other conferences once. Two home games and two away games against teams in each Conference. Total 8 matches
NOTE: the teams that are missed out are rotated over a five year period a la NFL)

POST SEASON
► There are six playoff positions. The Conference winners qualify automatically and are seeded 1, 2 and 3 in order of their table points. Position 4, 5 and 6 are wildcards, and they are seeded in order of their table points.
NOTE: It is mathematically possible (though unlikely) for all three wildcards to come from one Conference.

► Playoff week 1 - qualifying finals:
Seeds 1 and 2 have the week off.
Seed 3 at home to Seed 6, loser gone
Seed 4 at home to Seed 5, loser gone

► Playoff week 2 - Semi-fianals
Seed 1 at home to lowest qualifier, loser gone
Seed 2 at home to highest qualifier, loser gone

► Playoff week 3 - Final
Highest seed semifinal winner at home to lowest seed semifinal winner.

Simples :biggrin:
 
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The Fat


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I really thought the Tahs missed the steady hand of Berrick Barnes at 10. IMO he's the best 10 in Aussie right now, because the other teams have all caught on to Quade Cooper's poncy footwork, without that, he ain't much of a 10. Cooper has been mowed down this season so far almost as often as he was for the whole of last season.

Agree 100% Ian.
Tahs backline was disjointed last night and really missed Barnes. Cooper needs space to be at his best and both the Force and Waratahs forwards have dominated the Reds in the first couple of games this year which effectively cuts down Cooper's time and space.
As I hinted in my earlier post, it's one thing to top your conference, but you still need to beat the best of the rest to be a title contender. Good eye opener for the Tahs.
 

Dickie E


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why is a NZ referee reffing a NZ team?
 

Ian_Cook


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why is a NZ referee reffing a NZ team?

And Jon Kaplan was refereeing the Lions last night.
Vinny Munro was refereeing the Chiefs tonight
Jaco Peyper refereed the Sharks last weekend



Its called the Merit Referee System.

http://www.sarugbyblog.com/2008/12/17/sanzar-choose-their-referee-merit-panel/

The philosophy is that ALL referees are neutral (at this level anyway, only the fans perceive them as biased.)

Its only been in place since 2009 Dickie, do try to keep up!
 
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Ian_Cook


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Magpie

If you DO want to see a real clanger from Chris Pollock, have a look at Blue 14 (Lachie Turner) picking the ball up in a clearly and obviously offside position (1:48 in the video) and that led directly the Blue team's second try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4DsfKLqheI&t=1m40s

At no stage does Blue 14 ever retire behind the Ruck hindmost foot before picking up the ball.
 

Dickie E


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Its called the Merit Referee System.

given Tahs are top in Oz and Crusaders are thereabouts, does this make Pollock the top ranked S15 referee?
 

Ian_Cook


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given Tahs are top in Oz and Crusaders are thereabouts, does this make Pollock the top ranked S15 referee?

No, that is not how it works Dickie

Merit referees mean, that referees are selected for matches regardless of their nationality. Either a referee is good enough to officiate at this level or they are not; if the are good enough, they are on the list, otherwise, they are not. The ranking of referees is not taken into consideration when appointing them for regular season games. This only happens for playoffs.
 

Dickie E


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so are they drawn out of a hat?
 

Dickie E


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I guess they must be :(

PS; is Danny C. left-handed?
 

peperami

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Drift


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No, he is still an ARU referee
 
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