Alain Rolland to retire at the end of this season

Submachine wrote:

fa0019 wrote:If the ref does beyond his expectations I often will compliment him. I think Nigel Owens and  often does that. They go to the players early on and have a favourable word with them, a little bit of coaching to keep the match a decent match for the fans.

He doesn't need to do that but it makes for a better game.

Agreed, a good ref worthy of praise. Another observer might take the view however that he is quite fond of the sound of his own voice.

Submachine wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

dallym wrote:

Scrumpy wrote: least the guy had the balls to send of Warbs for that dangerous tackle.

this .

Whilst it was the right call, it isn't really worth praising somebody for doing their job correctly in my opinion.

All the best to him. Didn't always feel like he was sympathetic to a flowing game, but then he isn't as bad as others (Clancy).

With regards to the death threats, I think it's fair to assume they weren't real rugby people. Most people would accept it was correct to send him off and also Wales should've won without Warburton.

So there'd be no tea and bickies for the fireman who rescues your kids from an inferno? Pat on the back? A grudging acceptance of a job done to the highest standard under intense pressure?

Risca Rev wrote:

Submachine wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

dallym wrote:

Scrumpy wrote: least the guy had the balls to send of Warbs for that dangerous tackle.

this .

Whilst it was the right call, it isn't really worth praising somebody for doing their job correctly in my opinion.

All the best to him. Didn't always feel like he was sympathetic to a flowing game, but then he isn't as bad as others (Clancy).

With regards to the death threats, I think it's fair to assume they weren't real rugby people. Most people would accept it was correct to send him off and also Wales should've won without Warburton.

So there'd be no tea and bickies for the fireman who rescues your kids from an inferno? Pat on the back? A grudging acceptance of a job done to the highest standard under intense pressure?

It was more to do with the way their posts were presented (I know Dally just agreed). It isn't "having balls" to do your job correctly, it's having integrity which should be a trait in every referee anyway. That's pretty high praise to say it was a ballsy call, don't you think? It was really the only call he could make (given the supposed tip tackle red card criteria, so didn't take any amount of guts to do it.

fa0019 wrote:GE

If you can find a non white/female/disabled/transgendered referee (or whoever bar the current batch) who is up to the required standard then by all means... until then it should be the person best up for the role.

This isn't the public sector in the UK... this is a key position, one of the most important in test rugby and only the best should be considered.

If you're happy for your beloved ABs to lose now and again due to a referee who is unsuitable/not ready etc for test rugby then by all means.... and more so then when you do blame the referee (every time the ABs lose a match).

GloriousEmpire wrote:They've lost often enough because of incompetent referees under the current regime. 2007 leaps to mind.

Rugby Fan wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:They've lost often enough because of incompetent referees under the current regime. 2007 leaps to mind.

You keep addressing this topic but, for some reason, you also keep failing to address several key questions arising from the statements you have so far made.

Does this mean you no longer believe the NZRU has done as much as you would want in the matter of promoting non-white European referees to the elite level of the New Zealand game?

GloriousEmpire wrote: I've mentioned the sterling work the NZRU has done repeatedly

Cyril wrote:

fa0019 wrote:In context I and a fellow player years back was once told by some opposing russian prop after a scuffle  that we were dead after the game and he was going to get his "mafia" mates to do us over. In some ways I believed him, but in reality he was just full of s***.

Sometimes the Russian Mafia just let you wait for a few years before exacting revenge. Just saying

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:

Cyril wrote:

fa0019 wrote:In context I and a fellow player years back was once told by some opposing russian prop after a scuffle  that we were dead after the game and he was going to get his "mafia" mates to do us over. In some ways I believed him, but in reality he was just full of s***.

Sometimes the Russian Mafia just let you wait for a few years before exacting revenge. Just saying

Cyril keep it about the rugby please,we don't want to hear about your sexual exploits.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Perhaps you weren't watching because i did and don't feel like repeating myself

Cyril wrote:What happens when we sort out all the refs and develop a complete cure for stomach bugs/food poisoning and NZ still lose a game?

Global warming?