2012 S15 All things Referee thread

Not risking injury?

The Appointments Board has a lot to answer for in its policy of deliberately scheduling referees who have had problems with a particular team to that team repeatedly:

1. Jonathon Kaplan has been a constant issue for years. The Waratahs record with him in charge is two wins and fifteen losses. And yet every year he is appointed to referee them at least twice. This year it is round 9 & 10. It is quite possible that Elsom will be back as captain for those games and his history with Kaplan is somewhat problematic.
2. Ian Smith had an extremely controversial half-game last year vs the Reds when he came on after Steve Walsh was injured. This year as an AR he made a very bad decision that cost the Waratahs the game against the Reds. He's back as an AR in round 8.
3. The Waratahs have already had Bryce Lawrence twice. Lots of teams have issues with him but usually not those NZ teams who turn the rucks into mayhem.

Maybe they hope that if they appoint them to games more often that this will even up the score over time. Hasn't worked as a strategy up till now. It ignores the fact that referees are human and have their own individual foibles and prejudices. Wouldn't a far better policy be to give those officials other games to allow time to heal a few wounds before bringing them back? There are a number of referees that hardly ever get to referee Waratah games. The current policy lacks sensitivity to the people issues involved and fails the commonsense test.

Thought I'll only need to give the refs names ffor week 7-10 but look like some need the explaination aswell to help clear things up
Rugby365

Priorities the important part.

Next line of SA refs on the up.

Vodacom play outs refs
Appointments
Quarterfinals, 4/5 May
Griquas vs Pampas XV in Kimberley
Referee: Rasta Rashivenga
Western Province vs Golden Lions in Cape Town
Referee: Ben Crouse
Pumas vs Eastern Province in Witbank
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Sharks XV vs Blue Bulls in Durban
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Semifinals, 11/12 May
Referees: Quinton Immelman, Stuart Berry
Final, 18/19 May
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe

Super Rugby, Week 11
Hurricanes vs Blues at Westpac Stadium,
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Television match official: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Chiefs vs Lions at Pukekohe
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Grant Stuart (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Crusaders vs Reds at Christchurch Stadium
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Television match official: Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
Sharks vs Highlanders at Mr Price KINGS PARK, Durban
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Cheetahs vs Force at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Rebels vs Bulls in Melbourne
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Brumbies vs Waratahs in Canberra
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Richard Goswell (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)

I really don't understand why a conference game can't have a referee of that nationality for that game. It just makes so much sense.

For the benefit of the match. I'd rather it didn't.

Can not really blame the referee for those losses. Bad luck charms are superstitions.

Super Rugby, Week 12
Blues vs Lions in Auckland
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden--Whaitiri (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Waratahs vs Bulls in Sydney
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Highlanders vs Hurricanes in Dunedin
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Rebels vs Crusaders in Melbourne
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Sharks vs Force in Durban
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Joey Salmans (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Stormers vs Cheetahs at Newlands
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Reds vs Chiefs in Brisbane
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Lesczcynski (Australia)

Here we go again. Kaplan twice in a row. Followed by Pollock twice in a row (Bryce Lawrence lite). To add salt to the wound Ian Smith is AR and first reserve if Pollock is out. We all remember him from last year and the wrong call on the forward pass this year.

Why are the Appointments Board so provocative? Do they like controversy?

Dunno Boet, Pollock has been good all year. I'll never mind him. The only one left from your critics is probably Jonker.

I don't see how it's controversial?

There was nothing controversial about Pollock on the weekend.

I don't think they factor in any of the things you mention when appointing refs.

At a closer look you could probably make a similar case about each ref for all the games, given refs have a history with all teams in just a 15 club comp.

I think Pollock is one of the better refs running around at that level, he appears to have a good rapport with the players and generally makes good decisions.

Not sour grapes from the Brumbies game is it Hawko?

Glen Jackson has been good as well

Pollock has been the form referee of the tournament, not sure what games you have been watching.

He wasn't that good in the Saders vs Stormers game.

As a Stormers supporter I think he did pretty well. Had no problem with his reffing on the day. Like I said many times, they are human and make mistakes like anybody. You'll never get the perfect performances from a player and the same about the ref. As long as he is consistent, then its fine and cant ask more. Professional players should adjust to the ref as best and quick as possible.

As a neutral I think he handled the tackle not that well. It was not one of his best games but every referee is allowed to have one I think. They must just not make a habit of it. People will not pick up some of the mistakes because they listen to the commentator. When a commentator question the decisions the public starts to think the referee was wrong and go on the internet on a all out war without looking if the commentator was correct. Reds vs Crusaders game that happened and Bryce was correct 99 percent of the times according to the law.

Here is a example.


The commentators say its good rugby. Everyone thinks that is correct what Franks did there. Next week another referee will blow it up and the commentators will question him so will the public. But in fact Franks is not allowed to do that. Thats a penalty.

This as well. How can the referee allow this.


That man Franks again. He dived in over the top off that ruck. Thats about 5 or 6 laws that he transgressed there but the commentators does not say anything about it so no one picked it up.

Franks have been doing a lot off stuff that is against the laws the last few weeks and seems to get away with it. That is dangerous play what he did there.

Probably the reason why I switch most times to the Kiwi/Aus commentators when watching TV rugby. Get the view from the other side. When they critisize the ref I laugh at them.