Super Rugby Finals Appointments

[Dickie E]

Out of curiousity, does anyone have a problem with 3 Aussie's being appointed to the game?

Gives IC the chance to get his excuses in early

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

Speaking of S15 semi-finals - well we are now!

In Crusaders v Sharks was everyone happy about Laulala's rather inept punch being only a PK?

Rowan Hoffman flagged in a punch but when reviewed on the screen it became apparent Laulala's punch hit his fellow prop's forearm rather than the intended recipient's head.

I don't think Glenda Jackson even spoke to Laulala about it.

Good game and nice to see the Sharks boring kicking tactics not bearing fruit

 

[Ian_Cook]

Referee: Craig Joubert
AR: Steve Walsh
AR: James Leckie
TMO: George Ayoub (I think that's how you spell George's last name)

Out of curiosity, does anyone have a problem with 3 Aussie's being appointed to the game?

1. I object to the whole system of "merit" referees being used in SR. I think all referees should be from the country not involved (or in the case of two teams from the same country, then from that country), especially in the Grand Final where the entire TO4 should be neutral.

2. How is James Leckie (dropped from the SR Referee's panel) a better "merit" referee than Jaco Peyper, Glen Jackson, Rohan Hoffman, Angus Gardner or Andrew Lees?

3. If we are going to have merit referees for the Grand Final then surely the TO4 should be the best four; those who refereed the semi-finals and the two qualifiers.

1. Craig Joubert
2. Steve Walsh
3. Glen Jackson
4. Jaco Peyper

4. I object to George Ayoub, period! The guy is unpredictable, and has come up with a number of "out of left field" TMO howlers during his time in the box.

 

[Drift]

2. How is James Leckie (dropped from the SR Referee's panel) a better "merit" referee than Jaco Peyper, Glen Jackson, Rohan Hoffman, Angus Gardner or Andrew Lees?

I would imagine Leckie is a better AR.

 

[leaguerefaus]

I would imagine Leckie is a better AR.

That's the point I was going to make. Being the better referee doesn't necessarily make you a better AR. Rugby is one of the only sports in the world where referees who usually ref at the top level are also consistently used to run touch. Most of the touch judges in the NRL have not refereed at the top level. The same can be said for linesmen in the NFL, soccer, AFL etc.

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

The same can be said for linesmen in the NFL, soccer, AFL etc.

True enough. When Howard Webb did the World Cup in RSA in 2010 he did it with his two regular (English) ARs Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey who do not, as far as I know, referee at anything approaching the same level as HW - they are both FIFA assistant referees.

Didn't stop HW getting a lot of stick mind you - especially from the Dutch! :biggrin:

 

[Dickie E]

I would imagine Leckie is a better AR.

I've heard all these guys many times on the comms and if I was ref, I'd be delighted to have Leckie as AR. He says the right things to the ref at the right times.

 

[Ian_Cook]

Well, Rugby does not distinguish between referees and AR's i.e. there is no career path as an AR.

 

[Dickie E]

Well, Rugby does not distinguish between referees and AR's i.e. there is no career path as an AR.

Well, Leckie & Ian Smith seem to have carved themselves a niche

 

[Phil E]

Well, Rugby does not distinguish between referees and AR's i.e. there is no career path as an AR.

There is in England.

 

[dave_clark]

and didn't the last world cup have specialist ARs?

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

There is in England.

Is it a career? Our South Yorks Chairman is/was a high(ish) profile AR at Premiership/International level however he has retired from his job so is it just a nice hobby?