Ref watch: What Dan Biggar said to Gauzere, Farrell's useless anger and England's biggest offender
Ref watch: Four French officials stepped into the spotlight for this weekend’s Six Nations games in Rome and Cardiff – Mathieu Raynal and Pascal Gauzere refereeing with Romain Poite and Alex Ruiz providing TMO support.
And while Raynal and Poite enjoyed a gentle stroll in the sunshine as Italy slipped to a 30th consecutive Six Nations defeat, it may be some time before the dust settles on the officials’ roles in what finished as a comfortable Wales win over England.
Before we dissect some crucial talking points it is probably worth noting that this year’s competition – courtesy of Covid-19 – is something of a throwback in officiating terms.
In the days before World Rugby (or the IRB as it was formerly known) all officials came from the Five Nations – and even wore their own country’s colours. Close your eyes and think back to Clive Norling or Jim Fleming and they were wearing red or blue.
Since the dawn of the professional age, the world’s best officials have travelled the globe and as a result we see plenty of Southern Hemisphere referees in the Six Nations when travel is possible.
On top of this European rugby has in the relatively recent past lost Nigel Owens and Jerome Garces – who respectively took charge of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup finals – plus seasoned Irish officials George Clancy and John Lacey. It is therefore fair to say that the current appointments picture has a very different and much less experienced look.
Wales v England – Josh Adams Try
When Gauzere sees the TV camera angle behind Wales’ posts he will appreciate that while he was correct in law he has made a major game-management error.
When the 43-year-old correctly penalised Owen Farrell on the ground in his own 22 the visitors had shipped five penalties in the opening quarter.
It was therefore entirely reasonable for Gauzere to call the England captain over, issue a warning and instruct: “Have a word with your team please they need to change their behaviour.”
After the clock stopped, the wide-angle camera shows all 15 England players behind their own posts.
Quick-thinking Wales no.10 Dan Biggar – who had the ball – is then heard to request: “Please let me know when time is on” at which point Gauzere should have instantly switched on mentally and realised a quickly-taken penalty was a possibility.
??????? Wales couldn’t have asked for a better start! ?
Thoughts? #GuinnessSixNations #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/zThws0HGi6
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 27, 2021
Since he had stopped the clock and instructed Farrell to call his team in “for a word,” it was now essential that he completed the cycle before restarting the clock by checking his message had been relayed and that England were ready to recommence play.
After all, had England ignored his instructions and remained spread across the field, Gauzere would quite rightly have viewed a yellow card for the captain as an entirely reasonable course of action.
Farrell’s post-try complaints were understandable, but by then the damage was done and there was no going back. This meant the England skipper’s aggressive manner only achieved (based on Gauzere’s body language) in undermining his prospects of having a reasonable communication flow with the official during the remainder of the match.
Wales v England – Game Management
Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | |
Pens against Wales | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Pens against England | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Why England repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot by getting on the wrong side of the referee is an interesting and very relevant question.
Since the last World Cup multiple whistlers have found fault with Jones’s team, and while a reputation can sometimes go ahead of you, some of their infringements are unbelievably brainless.
At 24-all England should probably have gone on to win the match only for the concession of four penalties in eight fourth-quarter minutes to hand Wales field position and three shots at goal.
Gauzere’s application of law was tighter – critics will say more pedantic – than many. For example, he penalised lineout blocking by a lifter three times in the course of the match.
International teams analyse referees to such a degree that they go on the field knowing what to expect – so this really shouldn’t have surprised England to the extent that it did.
But the key point here is that good sides with capable leaders spot trends, communicate and adapt. Can you imagine John Eales, Sam Warburton or Richie McCaw allowing their teams to regularly ship between 15 and 20 penalties or repeatedly commit technical offences?
England’s biggest offender is Maro Itoje who was penalised five times. This is way beyond normal tolerance levels, and when he reviews his performance Gauzere should be asking himself why a player who infringed four times in the opening 27 minutes was neither formally warned nor shown a yellow card.
Wales v England – Liam Williams Try
Unlike the two previous topics, the controversial award of this first-half score is more about interpretation of law.
The pass which reached a flying Louis Rees-Zammit was behind him and after hitting his right hand it rolled down the back of his leg – perhaps straight down or perhaps marginally forward – before rebounding forward from Henry Slade to Liam Williams who regathered and scored.
In real time it looked like a knock-on, and based on Williams’ muted reaction and Rees-Zammit’s frustrated one that was certainly their belief.
The first thing to clarify here is that once Gauzere ruled a try on field, TMO Ruiz had to find clear and obvious evidence with which to overturn this decision – and there was none.
??????? Liam Williams gets Wales' second try of the half. #GuinnessSixNations #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/rTOM0pypji
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 27, 2021
In matches where there is no TMO, this incident is ruled a knock-on 999 times out of 1000 – in fact something similar happens quite regularly at lower levels where handling errors are more common.
Picture a player knocking on then, flashing a frustrated foot at the ball, making contact before it hits the ground and looking hopefully to the referee to see if he interprets his mistake as a kick. Because the player has lost control of the ball very few whistlers will support his optimism!
This drops into a similar category as a number of other recent incidents since law does not specifically deal with it.
Those who read my Round Two column may recall the phrase “A player should not jump into a tackle” is no longer in the law book. Instead the officials had to decide whether Jonny May’s spectacular finish against Italy constituted dangerous play.
A player kicking the ball before it hits the ground after losing control is also not a question to which a law book enquiry produces a direct answer – but based on historic practice is usually ruled a knock-on.
It is also worth noting that Gauzere may well have been unsighted – and in this respect he received no audible assistance from his touch judge who was right on the spot. Had the flag-man called in a knock-on the TMO would never have got involved and no-one watching, including either set of players, would have questioned it.
Given the ever-growing involvement of the man in the TV van, it seems to me that the touch judge has a growingly irrelevant role, but that one is for another day.
Italy v Ireland – Iain Henderson ‘Try’
As Ireland piled early pressure on their hosts, Iain Henderson stretched for the line in a pile of bodies and the ball came loose and was cleared.
At the next stoppage referee Raynal quietened the second row’s suggestion that he had in fact scored a try with the information that TMO Poite had already looked at the incident “in the background.”
However, when ITV produced a slow-motion replay it was immediately obvious that Henderson had control of the ball and had grounded it. Given that Raynal was unsighted (and therefore blameless), this creates immediate questions.
The TMO protocol allows intervention in three areas – foul play, to adjudge whether a kick has gone through the posts and to adjudge on try-scoring – so this decision sits squarely in Poite’s remit.
Since the ball remained in play he was unable to stop the game until it next became dead, but at that point surely the incident had to go on the giant screen for Raynal to view?
While initiatives to keep play moving are to be welcomed, since the two-hour rugby match is a much too regular occurrence, getting try-or-no-try decisions correct in an international is surely much more important?
Italy v Ireland – Offsides in Open Play
It was interesting to see the officials twice penalise Italian forwards advancing ahead of being put onside when chasing a long kick.
On neither occasion were they within 40 metres of the ball-carrier, and while they are technically offside as soon as they take a forward step, in practice this has been overlooked for years.
In the second half Reynal also audibly warned Italy’s scrum half Callum Braley not to advance in front of the ball carrier when he was “running a cheat line” ahead of play.
Assuming Reynal has not produced this rabbit out of a hat this is clearly an area in which World Rugby have asked officials to clamp down, and given that it results in increased space it is an initiative to be applauded.
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2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
7 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
24 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
24 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
1 Go to commentsEveryone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
2 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
24 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
24 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
2 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
2 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
4 Go to commentsNo longer able to except the excuses offered up for Rob. The red jersey has lost it’s mana and become a joke. I do not wish Mr Penny any wrong but it is time to go. Do the right thing Rob and retire, PLEASE.
31 Go to commentsIt is a travesty that 8/12 teams play in the finals, and that 4 wins out of 14 might be enough to get you there, but every competition has this to some degree. If it was only the top 4 going through, then this season would have been over for 6 of the teams 4 weeks ago. Super Rugby is simply a feeder competition for the All Blacks and Wallabies. There are low stakes and no consequences because so few people care who wins Super Rugby. In football, winning the Champions League is the pinnacle for any player or fan. The fate of national teams in the world cup or Euros is a complete second fiddle to The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundelsliga etc… Same with the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB. Players and fans care deeply about their team winning NBA title, but don’t care at all about USA winning gold at the Olympics. Or more locally with Rugby League, the Hierarchy is probably NRL > State of Origin > International. For some maybe State of Origin is the top. Super Rugby is low consequence and low stakes because no one cares enough about the outcome. Players ultimately want to play for the ABs, not the Hurricanes or Blues. Casual fans aren’t talking about SR selections but everyone has an opinion on Sam Cane or Ian Foster. Super Rugby is a means to an end. The only context it has is how it effects who is selected for the ABs.
7 Go to commentsPlayoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
7 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
3 Go to commentsHey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
7 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
3 Go to comments