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| Referee for the 2011 WC Final | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sunday, 13. March 2011, 19:01 (780 Views) | |
| CockneyRef | Sunday, 13. March 2011, 19:01 Post #1 |
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Gents. Who do you think is going to get the WC 2011 final. Personally i'd say Nigel Owens who IMO is the best referee on the IRB panel. |
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| Dommer OFK | Thursday, 24. March 2011, 18:09 Post #2 |
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As long as Steve Walsh gets absolutely nowhere near the Final in any capacity - I'll be happy with anyone |
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| Hendo | Saturday, 26. March 2011, 21:50 Post #3 |
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Hard to predict at this early stage as so much can happen between now and then and in the tournament itself. The WC has a bit of a history of throwing up some surprise appointments - 1987 - Kerry Fitzgerald of Australia, relatively young and inexperienced in international terms 1991 - Derek Bevan of Wales, who at the time was only regarded as Wales no 2 behind Clive Norling (though Norling never went) 1995 - Ed Morrison, perhaps not too much of a surprise 1999 - Andre Watson of SA, something of a surprise as I think he had only done about a dozen internationals all told at the time 2003 - Watson again, extremely unprecedented, (Chris White would surely have got it if England were not in the final) 2007 - Alain Rolland of Ireland (excellent ref and one of my favourites but more experienced refs were overlooked. Also, with Ireland out, his appointment was announced at the 1/4 final stage) When you consider that such exaulted names as Jim Fleming, Chris White, Paul Honiss, Joel Jugte and even Paddy O'Brien himslef never got a final, then its even harder to predict. That said, Owens must be in with a good chance as Wales have not an earthly of getting to the final and, on his day, he is as good as most though did have a bit of a poor game in the recent Scotland v Ireland clash. Others in the mix must surely be Jonathan Kaplan (I believe he is now the most capped ref of all time, so has the experience), Wayne Barnes and even Alain Rolland again - having set the precedence of having a ref get more than one final, why not again? Outsiders would no doubt include Romain Poite of France and Bryce Lawrence of NZ. If politics plays any part, neither a Frenchman nor a New Zealander has had the final before, so you never know. And of course it depends on who gets to the latter stages of the tournament. I would say that, subject to which teams do, Owens, Rolland, Barnes and Kaplan must be strong contenders to feature in the latter stages, probably these 4 will get the semis, final and 3rd/4th play-off. And as to the future. Watch Jerome Garces of France (took over from Poite in the Calcutta Cup game when the latter got injured). Always been very impressed with him every time I have seen him; one definately to keep an eye on. How about Garces for the WC Final 2023? |
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| Jim Carr Fan Club | Sunday, 20. November 2011, 16:34 Post #4 |
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Sharing your admiration for M. Garces. I was surrprised to discover that he is in fact 2 years older than M.Poite. Since the FFR now operates an age limit of 45, he will have been retired for five years by 2023! With the possible advantage of the "piston" a better bet might be one Flavien Hourquet. Edited by Jim Carr Fan Club, Sunday, 20. November 2011, 16:45.
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| Hendo | Monday, 21. November 2011, 16:35 Post #5 |
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Do you know if he is the son of Rene Hourquet, who was a top French ref some 20 or so years ago? Sounds possible |
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| Jim Carr Fan Club | Monday, 21. November 2011, 16:46 Post #6 |
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That was my assumption (hence the piston reference), but in fact he is the nephew of René, his father being called Gilles. Perhaps slightly less of an advantage than I had thought, but it can do no harm to have friends in high places. He is in his first season in the second division, aged 28ish. |
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| Hendo | Monday, 21. November 2011, 23:12 Post #7 |
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Having a father in high places and being the same nationality as Paddy O'Brien has done a certain Bryce Lawrence no harm despite his reckless and at times utterly amazing application (or non application) of the Laws of Rugby Union! Lets hope this young Frenchman makes it on his own merits |
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1:13 AM Jul 11