The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

****ing hell he’s a great referee.

[ame]https://twitter.com/goodbadrugby/status/1603039297959067648[/ame]

[Zapater]

****ing hell he’s a great referee.

https://twitter.com/goodbadrugby/sta...39297959067648

He's also exactly the type of privileged prick that I hate. I like it making us look like the bad guys again. NZ fans are still sending him death threats from the 07 WC game against France. Nothing about that gets mentioned, convenient.

[Buzzo]

He's also exactly the type of privileged prick that I hate. I like it making us look like the bad guys again. NZ fans are still sending him death threats from the 07 WC game against France. Nothing about that gets mentioned, convenient.

Yeah, it comes across as really convenient for him.

[Zapater]

Yeah, it comes across as really convenient for him.

Not for him, the media to jump on. Not sure why he's gone for the interview saying he was tempted to quit, he didn't, it's a non-story. Can't stand the guy (not because of this but because of how he is and what he represents).

Also people don't understand that people in SA are fed up. Inflation is always through the roof, the power is off for several hours a day, the currency is constantly depreciating. You tune in to watch a game (the one thing you're looking forward to) and feel harshly done by, people flip. Not justifying those people but there are worse things happening in the world than keyboard warriors on a different continent making stupid comments. It makes me laugh how up in arms Europe is about the cost of living etc and energy prices. That's a billion times better than a standard day in Africa. His wife maybe doesn't make the decisions but she made the decision to marry him which is automatic implication. People are idiots (in general) and when things are competitive they get angry. I feel, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

If you think about referees (officials and the IRB) identifying with players or people it's easy to see how in Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand they can find a lot. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone of that profile in the Bok camp they can relate to. Since Proudfoot left, I think Malcolm Marx is probably the only one who fits the archetype.

I've noticed it in the cricket too, as our teams get darker and Dutcher (demographically) we get less benefit of the doubt. The referees are exactly like guys like Sam Cane and Alun Wyn Jones. Kolisi and even Matfield before him are basically considered primitive savages.

[RichC]

****ing hell he’s a great referee.

https://twitter.com/goodbadrugby/sta...39297959067648

Barnes is a dreadful ref; that's coming from an England supporter as well!

However he shouldn't have to deal with that sort of abuse, absolutely disgraceful

[Buzzo]

Barnes is a dreadful ref; that's coming from an England supporter as well!

However he shouldn't have to deal with that sort of abuse, absolutely disgraceful

I dont see that at all. Though I dont only watch international (just stating that as a fact). In the Gallagher and any other game in European club Rugby I think he is decent.

International Rugby is such a showpiece, and the nature of the game sharpen the focus on an annual or even less frequent basis that decisions are literally going to split the crowd.

He ref'd the Leinster v Racing game at the weekend. I felt he was reading the scrum wrongly. But he was consistent in his interpretation throughout, whilst explaining it in 2 languages. It is then up to the teams to adapt to interpretation - refereeing Rugby is quite open to interpretation.

It is certainly interesting to hear supporters of countries who experience relative success moan about the ref

There is some good content, podcasts etc which give the referees POV in Rugby, and some of the behaviours that we see recently (look at the Pau coach at the weekend) do not represent the values.

[RichC]

I dont see that at all. Though I dont only watch international (just stating that as a fact). In the Gallagher and any other game in European club Rugby I think he is decent.

International Rugby is such a showpiece, and the nature of the game sharpen the focus on an annual or even less frequent basis that decisions are literally going to split the crowd.

He ref'd the Leinster v Racing game at the weekend. I felt he was reading the scrum wrongly. But he was consistent in his interpretation throughout, whilst explaining it in 2 languages. It is then up to the teams to adapt to interpretation - refereeing Rugby is quite open to interpretation.

It is certainly interesting to hear supporters of countries who experience relative success moan about the ref

There is some good content, podcasts etc which give the referees POV in Rugby, and some of the behaviours that we see recently (look at the Pau coach at the weekend) do not represent the values.

Barnes for me loves turning a match into the "Wayne Barnes show", you might be the first person I've seen rating him as a ref which is fair enough.

Moaning about him and not rating him are two very different things! I don't rate him at all but in rugby on the whole a ref sets out his stall how he's going to ref things and the teams need to work around him, England are generally awful at that! Always makes me think of Hartley when he was absolutely bamboozled by the Italians

Regardless of what I think of him as a ref there's no way he should be or any of them getting the vitriol they get from "fans" just not on, I mean why would anyone want to become a ref with that sort of abuse.

[Buzzo]

Barnes for me loves turning a match into the "Wayne Barnes show", you might be the first person I've seen rating him as a ref which is fair enough.

Moaning about him and not rating him are two very different things! I don't rate him at all but in rugby on the whole a ref sets out his stall how he's going to ref things and the teams need to work around him, England are generally awful at that! Always makes me think of Hartley when he was absolutely bamboozled by the Italians

Regardless of what I think of him as a ref there's no way he should be or any of them getting the vitriol they get from "fans" just not on, I mean why would anyone want to become a ref with that sort of abuse.

I reckon that is one of the biggest challenges for international Rugby refs. The game is managed/ref'd slightly differently in all territories.

Listening to the Rugby Pod and Chris Ashton (I used to absolutely hate him, but he is a decent bloke when you listen to him) was talking about the amount of time spent on game management once teams know who the ref is.

I would say the reason I dont mind Barnes is that I typically dont support either team when I watch him referee.

Cant think of the last time he managed us - so prepare for a massive about face from me when he does next and has a nightmare!!!

I saw one of the Rugby refs pushed back on Gary neville who was 'this ref is a nightmare' after the England game. I think all of this ex-pro narrative just adds to the pressure, and ultimately will lead to less people wanting to be refs.

[Cormack74]

Not for him, the media to jump on. Not sure why he's gone for the interview saying he was tempted to quit, he didn't, it's a non-story. Can't stand the guy (not because of this but because of how he is and what he represents).

Also people don't understand that people in SA are fed up. Inflation is always through the roof, the power is off for several hours a day, the currency is constantly depreciating. You tune in to watch a game (the one thing you're looking forward to) and feel harshly done by, people flip. Not justifying those people but there are worse things happening in the world than keyboard warriors on a different continent making stupid comments. It makes me laugh how up in arms Europe is about the cost of living etc and energy prices. That's a billion times better than a standard day in Africa. His wife maybe doesn't make the decisions but she made the decision to marry him which is automatic implication. People are idiots (in general) and when things are competitive they get angry. I feel, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

If you think about referees (officials and the IRB) identifying with players or people it's easy to see how in Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand they can find a lot. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone of that profile in the Bok camp they can relate to. Since Proudfoot left, I think Malcolm Marx is probably the only one who fits the archetype.

I've noticed it in the cricket too, as our teams get darker and Dutcher (demographically) we get less benefit of the doubt. The referees are exactly like guys like Sam Cane and Alun Wyn Jones. Kolisi and even Matfield before him are basically considered primitive savages.

Like I've said before, take a course, become a referee, see how you like being abused. I think it might help you with this

[Cormack74]

Barnes is a dreadful ref; that's coming from an England supporter as well!

However he shouldn't have to deal with that sort of abuse, absolutely disgraceful

I dont see that at all. Though I dont only watch international (just stating that as a fact). In the Gallagher and any other game in European club Rugby I think he is decent.

I'm not a huge fan of WB partly because I think he slightly plays the poor man's Nigel Owens. But very badly.

And partly because I think he misses stuff he shouldn't and is a bit over zealous with other stuff.

But he is consistent and he doesn't allow nonsense which is as it should be.

Plus I think he has reffed more internationals than anyone else so presumably the IRB thinks he's doing something right (even if he's mean to Saffers )

[Cormack74]

I've only just finished watching all last week's HC games Buzzo, but that was a pretty handy performance by your mob at Saracens.

[Zapater]

Like I've said before, take a course, become a referee, see how you like being abused. I think it might help you with this

Just don't get how that's Rassie's fault. He literally never said anything about it being okay to abuse refs. In all honesty, he used the correct channels to call a meeting after the first Lions test and was ignored, which is what started the debacle. If they gave him a meeting the first place, the whole thing is averted.

It's the same logic that Marilyn Manson and Duke Nukem are behind every school shooting in the US.

No thanks, but I do fit the World Rugby mould a lot better than the current Bok team English speaking, private school boy.

[Zapater]

I would be shocked if it happened first (or second) time round as it's a completely new experience but would you guys be furious if an SA team won the Heineken Cup? I know the French are particularly stroppy about participation let alone winning.

[Buzzo]

I would be shocked if it happened first (or second) time round as it's a completely new experience but would you guys be furious if an SA team won the Heineken Cup? I know the French are particularly stroppy about participation let alone winning.

Nah, I’d not mind. The teams have been invited in so there should be no issues if one of them won it. As you say not looking massively likely but you never know once we get into the NY.

One think with the Heineken Cup this year is the format. It’s is totally baffling. They need to nail and fix the format that’s a bigger issue for me than who participates.

[Buzzo]

I've only just finished watching all last week's HC games Buzzo, but that was a pretty handy performance by your mob at Saracens.

Yeah - we butchered one of the biggest overlaps in Rugby history to not take a commanding lead at one point in the second half. Was about a 7-1 It was a great performance.

Edinburgh are having an odd season, at times scintillating at times pretty ordinary. Darcy Grahams injury is a nightmare he was having an insane season his numbers were off thee charts. I love him as a player as he represents that fact that there is still space for a little guy on the Rugby field.

Watched the end of Saracens game yesterday. Some performance seeing out the last 20 away in Lyon with 14. Lyon butchered about 4 line out / driving maul opportunities.