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| Aviva Premiership 2013/4 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Tuesday, 17. September 2013, 17:31 (661 Views) | |
| RCG | Tuesday, 17. September 2013, 17:31 Post #1 |
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So we are two weekends in and I thought I would share a few observations. Although I am not a fan of all BT Sport have done with the rugby, you cannot argue that their coverage is comprehensive. I have watched all 7 live games so far and the one thing that has pleased me most has been the standard of the refereeing. Like him or not Wayne Barnes is a master of communication - players cannot make any excuses for not listening to him. His management of the sending off on Sunday was very good indeed, I liked the comment to the Sarries' players 'It's been properly dealt with, don't get involved'. Luke Pearce is a good, up and coming young referee, finding his feet well in the Premiership. JP Doyle is consistent (not my type of referee but effective nonetheless). Greg Garner has certainly benefited from recent international experience and is looking strong. Andrew Small gets most decisions right and is improving in getting his message across. Tim Wigglesworth blows a little hot and cold for me, some weeks brilliant, others average. He came in for some stick last weekend. It will be good to see the 2 or 3 newer referees get some games soon. I wonder how many football fans (or indeed posters on here) would be up in arms getting the same ref 2 weeks running? Tim Wigglesworth reffed Worcester v L Irish last Saturday and this week has L Irish v Exeter. Andrew Small did Sale's opening match and has them again this week at home to Wasps. This is the limitations of a small panel of referees. Overall though (despite the weather on consecutive Friday nights) I have been impressed by the start of the season, both from the clubs and officials. Good to see TMOs on all games for fairness and 'consistency' |
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| Hendo | Tuesday, 17. September 2013, 21:47 Post #2 |
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Agree wholeheartedly with RCG's views regarding Wayne Barnes and communication, he is excellent at it and its good that his clear and direct instructions are picked up through his radio mic for viewers to share. The Dylan Hartley sending off in the Twickenham Final was another perfect example and, with the help of radio evidence again, proved Barnes to be 100% in the right and Hartley to be at fault big-time. Nigel Owens for me is superb communicator |
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| RCG | Monday, 23. September 2013, 14:19 Post #3 |
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And so to this weekend's games. The weather on Friday suiting Harlequins more than the previous weeks and the set about demolishing Worcester. Once again Mr Barnes, I thought, was very good. Helped the game move along, was fair and consistent. Only saw highlights of Sale vs Wasps and the other 2 Saturday matches so can't comment on those. Gloucester vs Northampton had the big talking points. Firstly, a change of referee with Greg Garner being injured. Martin Fox seemed to do well early on but I felt he penalised Northampton a lot more than he needed to. Good use of TMO on foul play. In the dying moments of the match, after the Northampton 'wonder try' he did ask for time to be stopped. This was not done. He was clearly heard to say 'time will start at 39:06, after the kick'. This message was not relayed to the ground and the clock appeared to have gone past 40 minutes before play resumed. Gloucester had to gamble (and did) with at least 3 players offside at the kick off. I'm not even sure the resulting scrum went the right way. After numerous resets, the ball squirted out of the scrum before the No8 took it back in. Northampton front row stood up, seeing it was out and were penalised - Gloucester win. Fair play to Jim Mallender at Northampton - his only comment was they didn't play the referee as well as Gloucester did, he focussed on how his team should have got something more out of the game. Very refreshing. I hope that behind the scenes the powers that be reflect on the game with Martin Fox and let Northampton know the outcome of their discussions. So good to see professional people not hanging officials out to dry in public (as I am sure he was very angry inside) Sarries vs Bath was very one sided in the first half. JP Doyle managed most of the game well, although didn't seem to be able to get scrum time right at all. |
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