Final predictions?

[Aphrodite007]

ENG: SA - Owens, Garces, Poite, Skeen
WAL: NZ - Barnes, Peyper, Gardner, Jonker

 

[crossref]

Yes, I think Owens will get it
I think he deserves it over JG , on RWC performance.

 

[crossref]

Ben Skeen will be the TMO .. aren't the other three all English or South African

 

[L'irlandais]

RWC 2019 Appointments
Yeah you’re right. That was a bit short sighted of WR. Surely picking TMO’s only from the 3 Nations most likely to make the final is daft. It was the usual suspects in RWC 2015. Cannot find the 2011 appointments.

Savvy teams will also have done their homework on the TMO (television match official), an acronym the tournament will have introduced to many sports fans. First used in the World Cup in 2011, the TMO is a shadowy figure, often sitting in a mobile video suite in the car park of the playing venue. He is rarely seen, but heard by the millions of viewers to provide ultimate judgement on the key decisions.

In fact Graham Hughes was originally appointed for the 2011 Six Nations, along with
[LAWS]2011 Six Nations appointments of Television match officials:
Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Geoff Warren (England)
Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Tony Redmond (Ireland)
Graham Hughes (England)
Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Hugh Watkins (Wales)[/LAWS]

 

[Jarrod Burton]

Garces, Poite, O'Keefe and Skeen confirmed as the officials for the final

 

[crossref]

Jaco P is an AR for the bronze final, showing he has been forgiven for elbowgate

 

[Ian_Cook]

Garces, Poite, O'Keefe and Skeen confirmed as the officials for the final

He doesn't even rate in the top five referees in my book.

 

[crossref]

I would have given it to NO , based on RWC form.

 

[irishref]

So proof that form is not the key factor for refs during a World Cup tournament?

 

[belladonna]

Garces, Poite, O'Keefe and Skeen confirmed as the officials for the final

Am I right in thinking that JG hasn't reffed a RWC final?
NO has one already and the other two in the frame (WB, JP) are from the nations playing.
In any case I like him and can't help feeling that he fully deserves it.

 

[tewdric]

I thought JG had blown it after the Wales RSA game.

 

[crossref]

So proof that form is not the key factor for refs during a World Cup tournament?

I think JG and WB went into the RWC as clear favourites to get the final, and NO, tbh, headed for QF slot only.

NO has performed above par, JG (for me) below par, but this hasn't been enough - in the minds of WR - to reverse the pre tournament standings

I don't think it's a simple case of buggins turn

 

[irishref]

I think JG and WB went into the RWC as clear favourites to get the final, and NO, tbh, headed for QF slot only.

NO has performed above par, JG (for me) below par, but this hasn't been enough - in the minds of WR - to reverse the pre tournament standings

I don't think it's a simple case of buggins turn

So may I take this to read that you agree that current form is not the key factor?

 

[crossref]

So may I take this to read that you agree that current form is not the key factor?

I think it's a balance of current form and form over last twelve months .

I think my assessment of both may be different from WR !

I think NO put in a very noticeable effort, starting twelve months ago, at a run at the RWC final.
All the YouTube witticisms disappeared
He has got fitter again (at 46 that's some achievement) and while still not the fittest ref he is fit enough
He has got his in game focus back.
He is maximising the advantages his experience gives him .. Viz he has been impressively calm, assured and composed
He didn't FU

He so nearly got a second final !

 

[belladonna]

Breaking news...

Nigel Owens, the Welsh referee, was not considered to referee the World Cup final because of a calf injury he sustained while officiating England’s stunning 19-7 semi-final victory over New Zealand at the International Stadium Yokohama, Telegraph Sport can reveal.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-w...africa-frenchman-jerome-garces-referee-rugby/

 

[timmad]

Garces is a good referee but I think he can help his cause by setting his stall out early and enforcing off-side lines (generally poor from all RWC offcials) and making it clear what he will tolerate at the breakdown. Good luck to him, I hope his contribution to the final isn't decisive.

 

[Decorily]

........, I hope his contribution to the final isn't decisive.

I sincerely hope his contribution IS decisive!!

 

[timmad]

Sorry if I didn't express myself very well. Agree he needs to be decisive in all he does, however I hope he achieves the aim of many good refs in being hardly noticed during the match.

 

[Decorily]

Sorry if I didn't express myself very well. Agree he needs to be decisive in all he does, however I hope he achieves the aim of many good refs in being hardly noticed during the match.

Indeed?