Marc Wakeham
Referees in Wales
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2018
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- Level 2
As always with this type of argument, its flawed. The game starts in a different place depending on whether the try is awarded or not, not to mention that the mindset of the players will be different, so the game will unfold differently.
The only times this argument can be valid are
1. A score right on half-time where no side is blown immediately after the score is completed
2. Missed conversions.
In both cases, the game restarts in the same place, in the same way regardless of the awarding or not of the try, or the success of the conversion kick...
Which brings me to something interesting I saw on the sideline watching a pre-season club game yesterday for which I will make a new thread....
ETA: https://www.rugbyrefs.com/showthrea...the-try-with-a-difference&p=372863#post372863
True we don't know what would have happened. However we do know that a side behind the game has a different mindset to one that is not. THe scores DID effect what followed. They were material to the game.
Watching it live, my immediate reaction to the first try is that England were expecting a shot at goal, which was as large a contributory factor to the score as anything.
The second one - if I were Eddie Jones, I would be annoyed. If I were Pivac I would be annoyed if it were disallowed.
I thought he was refereeing to the assessment sheet. Technically accurate, but not great management. Certainly if I had been coaching a junior referee who had that kind of a game we would be chatting about cards and preventive measures. Itoje should have gone for his personal accumulation, and possibly a second English player for team accumulation. If we are to talk about the effect of taking one or more of the scores off, we have to ask how many points England could have shipped in 20 minutes playing with 14...
A difference between law errors and the subjective call not to issue cards. Also, and we can only speculate on this, would England have felt the pressure that led to the penalities if they were not chasing the game?
THe referee had a big material impact on the game that is the only this we know for sure.
I for one am happy that Wales won the TC and are in the mix for a possible GS show down but we rode the luck of a poor display from the To3.