Favourite Referees

by Bullsbok Tue 28 Oct 2014, 3:02 pm

Was browsing youtube just now and saw this gem of a clip , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FDh1xtqaWA Nigel Owens at his best. Of all the refs in World rugby he's my absolute favourite , brilliant referee with a brilliant personality . Second would have to be the ref i love to hate , Steve"Center of Attention" Walsh who despite his attention seeking is an entertaining referee to watch .Whos yours?

by **Biltong** Tue 28 Oct 2014, 3:07 pm

I actually rate Steve Walsh as a referee, I think he has a big chip on his shoulder, but he isn't a bad referee.

Same with Nigel Owens, his voice gives me the heebie jeebies, but he is a good referee.

by Bullsbok Tue 28 Oct 2014, 3:10 pm

Biltong wrote:I actually rate Steve Walsh as a referee, I think he has a big chip on his shoulder, but he isn't a bad referee.

Same with Nigel Owens, his voice gives me the heebie jeebies, but he is a good referee.

Would have to agree with you . Steve Walsh only gets a bad rep because he unfortunately is always present when there's a controversial decision to be made . Whether or not he gets its right becomes irrelevant because its " Steve Walsh "

by Geordie Tue 28 Oct 2014, 3:10 pm

Biltong wrote:I actually rate Steve Walsh as a referee, I think he has a big chip on his shoulder, but he isn't a bad referee.

Same with Nigel Owens, his voice gives me the heebie jeebies, but he is a good referee.

Depends who he is refereeing. I could quite happily never have him ref an England game ever again.

Owens is the best in my eyes...i just hate the way he refers to football as soccer. Its Football not soccer.
Soccer is an American / Aussie non traditional footballing country name for the game.

by Mr Bounce Tue 28 Oct 2014, 3:18 pm

Owens - I am always pleased when he referees because he is generally fair and doesn't take any nonsense.

I don't particularly like Walsh because he does appear to have a chip on his shoulder and seems to have it in for England a lot! censored

by lostinwales Tue 28 Oct 2014, 3:47 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:
Biltong wrote:I actually rate Steve Walsh as a referee, I think he has a big chip on his shoulder, but he isn't a bad referee.

Same with Nigel Owens, his voice gives me the heebie jeebies, but he is a good referee.

Depends who he is refereeing. I could quite happily never have him ref an England game ever again.

Owens is the best in my eyes...i just hate the way he refers to football as soccer. Its Football not soccer.
Soccer is an American / Aussie non traditional footballing country name for the game.

Absolutely. The biggest failing in my mind in THAT game is that he seemed to stop talking to England. If you blow the whistle without explaining anything the perpetrators are not going to be given a chance to learn. I hate the blame the ref culture as there are 80 minutes of decisions made and it seems that for some only one or two are significant, but for Steve Walsh I'll make an exception.

by fa0019 Tue 28 Oct 2014, 4:28 pm

Bullsbok wrote:
Biltong wrote:I actually rate Steve Walsh as a referee, I think he has a big chip on his shoulder, but he isn't a bad referee.

Same with Nigel Owens, his voice gives me the heebie jeebies, but he is a good referee.

Would have to agree with you . Steve Walsh only gets a bad rep because he unfortunately is always present when there's a controversial decision to be made . Whether or not he gets its right becomes irrelevant because its " Steve Walsh "

Actually I think this is where he falls down.

When he gets peeved.... he takes things out personally and starts to punish sides beyond the rules of the game.

The problem is that he has an ego and he has to be the no1 chap out there. If you massage that ego he'll be good as gold and can be a great ref who actually helps play.... if you start to contest him he bites back and often its a detriment to the game.

by Geordie Tue 28 Oct 2014, 4:30 pm

That is a huge problem with Steve Walsh. He seems to feel he has to be the centre of attention, like an actor on the stage.

The best refs are almost anonnymous ensuring the game flows smoothly and fairly...letting the players be the stars.

by **Rugby Fan** Tue 28 Oct 2014, 4:32 pm

I'll always have a soft spot for Clive Norling. He overruled his linesmen and denied Japan a first half conversion when they played a touring England XV in 1979. England went on to win it 19-21, helped by Norling playing enough injury time to enable them to score a last-ditch try when Japan was leading 19-15

by fa0019 Tue 28 Oct 2014, 4:40 pm

anyone for Wayne Barnes?

Jokes aside I think he's recovered well and is a half decent ref now. Not the best but not far off.

by fa0019 Tue 28 Oct 2014, 5:07 pm

I think they're talking out of the backside to be honest about SH rugby. The Currie Cup finishes in late October. Super Rugby starts in mid Feb. That's a 16 wk break. They need more?

If fact do to the 15 teams each team has a rest week. Most prefer it in the middle, the ones who have it at the end or the beginning as seen as the unlucky ones so I'm not sure who would prefer say 18 wk summer break with no break mid season. It looks short sighted.

In Europe its end of May to early Sept. That's a 14 wk break so suggesting they desire a longer break is a bit of a joke.

Especially since SH teams play max 19 SR games and 14 Currie Cup games

A non test player i.e. Juan De Jongh perhaps bar injury will play a max 33 games a year in the SH.
A non test player in Europe say someone from Sarries could play in 24 league games, 9 LV Cup games, and 9 HC games. That's a max of 42 games.

So they play more games and have a shorter rest period off too.

In terms of player conditioning I think the SH have got it about right. NZ leads the way with mid career sabbaticals and a well spread out season.

by TBJ9625 Tue 28 Oct 2014, 9:22 pm

Owens is possiblythe best ref in the game at the moment, unless he is in charge of an Ospreys game and I'll leave that there. I also like Steve Walsh. Been through alot but for me is always consistent, tries to allow the game to flow, but always talks to the players and indicates early when playing advantage.
fa0019 as for Wayne Barnes, actually i do like him to. Again talks to the players and indicates well, just lacks the consistency in his decision making.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 28 Oct 2014, 11:06 pm

I like Owens, Barnes, don't mind Garces.

Karl Dickson will make a good ref

by Poorfour Wed 29 Oct 2014, 7:09 am

Lone dissenting voice in the wilderness, but in my opinion Nige has gone off the boil in the last year or so. He's still probably the best at managng players, but I've noticed a number of technical howlers that he wouldn't have made a couple of year ago.

My favourite ref in terms of actually playing the laws remains Romain Poite. He has that Dickie Bird like quality of being able to make fine judgement calls in real time that replay shows to have been spot on, and he's unswayed by what the crowd thinks.

I'm prepared to believe that Walsh is a good ref, but I've mainly watched him in the context of England playing, and in that context he has been utterly hopeless on several levels. He clearly doesn't get on with anyone in an England shirt, which is a strong enough reason to keep ref and team apart.

by aucklandlaurie Wed 29 Oct 2014, 7:44 am

GeordieFalcon wrote:That is a huge problem with Steve Walsh. He seems to feel he has to be the centre of attention, like an actor on the stage.

The best refs are almost anonnymous ensuring the game flows smoothly and fairly...letting the players be the stars.

But he consistently facilitates the best games.

by No 7&1/2 Wed 29 Oct 2014, 7:57 am

My favourite ref is anyone who I haven't really noticed in a game.

by goneagain Wed 29 Oct 2014, 8:24 am

GeordieFalcon wrote:
Owens is the best in my eyes...i just hate the way he refers to football as soccer. Its Football not soccer.
Soccer is an American / Aussie non traditional footballing country name for the game.

Maybe he's just a traditionalist.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/06/the-origin-of-the-word-soccer/

by Barney McGrew did it Wed 29 Oct 2014, 8:50 am

Wayne Barnes, because as well as the normal attributes of fitness, empathy, good judgement, a deep understanding of the rules and great hair - he has an eye for the big moment... and a great sense of humour.

by fa0019 Wed 29 Oct 2014, 8:57 am

goneagain wrote:
GeordieFalcon wrote:
Owens is the best in my eyes...i just hate the way he refers to football as soccer. Its Football not soccer.
Soccer is an American / Aussie non traditional footballing country name for the game.

Maybe he's just a traditionalist.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/06/the-origin-of-the-word-soccer/

"Everybody... my name is Nigel Owens and I am Welsh. I think I better shout even when shaking hands with the players at the coin toss just in case everyone around the world can hear me"

I bet he has a light Cardiff accent in reality but the minute he gets on the mic he brings out the deepest Valleys accent possible.

Good ref but he ain't half vocal about it.

by Geordie Wed 29 Oct 2014, 9:01 am

I didnt actually realise Nigel was gay.

by Geordie Wed 29 Oct 2014, 9:03 am

goneagain wrote:
GeordieFalcon wrote:
Owens is the best in my eyes...i just hate the way he refers to football as soccer. Its Football not soccer.
Soccer is an American / Aussie non traditional footballing country name for the game.

Maybe he's just a traditionalist.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/06/the-origin-of-the-word-soccer/

Well i stand corrected....but i still cringe whenever i hear the word.

by offload Wed 29 Oct 2014, 9:43 am

Owens of the current group. Clive Norling as all time favourite (back when the game was proper rugby) and Derek Bevan was decent too - although the French wouldn't agree after the 95 WC.

by The Saint Wed 29 Oct 2014, 11:18 am

Owens is the best ref and is a fantastic character. Big fan of Steve Walsh too. He's so damn handsome and like Rolland he isn't afraid to make the big and sometimes controversial decisions that can change a match. More ref's should be like that.

Least favourite has to be Joubert. I'm sure he's a nice guy but I just don't understand his interpretations in most of the games I've watched him in. He did a good job of letting the recent Aus vs NZ game flow though.

*Owens was once at a presentation night for a local rugby club in Newport (would have been this summer). During the Q & A session he was asked which one of the rugby boys he would shag.... To which he replied "It definitely wouldn't be you you ugly f**ker." in his vocal, welsh voice... and everyone laughed!

by doctor_grey Wed 29 Oct 2014, 12:28 pm

For me, Nigel Owens and Tony Spreadbury. Both have a good sense of humour and clearly enjoy(ed) being a referee.
Spreaders:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8BlLGubEJs

But I would have really enjoyed seeing Sebastien Chabal as a referee. I bet there was not a lot of back talk.
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12052011/58/top-14-chabal-ordered-become-referee.html

by **Biltong** Wed 29 Oct 2014, 12:34 pm

I don't like Barnes, I was watching a bit of European Champions cup this weekend, he is clueless at the breakdown

by fa0019 Wed 29 Oct 2014, 12:35 pm

I simply recall the days when no one cared about the referee, no one complained about the referee, no one knew their names and we didn't hide behind their decisions to patch up the truth of the state of our various teams.

by doctor_grey Wed 29 Oct 2014, 12:47 pm

fa0019 wrote:I simply recall the days when no one cared about the referee, no one complained about the referee, no one knew their names and we didn't hide behind their decisions to patch up the truth of the state of our various teams.

Were those the days before internet chat?

by fa0019 Wed 29 Oct 2014, 12:48 pm

doctor_grey wrote:
fa0019 wrote:I simply recall the days when no one cared about the referee, no one complained about the referee, no one knew their names and we didn't hide behind their decisions to patch up the truth of the state of our various teams.
Were those the days before internet chat?

when wireless meant something completely different doc!

by disneychilly Wed 29 Oct 2014, 1:47 pm

You want a hybrid of a lot. I like Barnes, Owens and Joubert for their communication. Barnes isn't afraid to make big calls concerning cards and you need to know that foul play won't be tolerated. He is bold and assertive all the time-I just wish he was right all of the time.

Poite has been up and down but the last AB test I remember him reffing (NZ Oz at Auckland) was a great open game after he was harsh at first and let the teams know what they couldn't get away with.

Consistency and the same approach to both teams at least give you something to work around. Gives the skips something clear to take back to their players. Because rugby's laws are like the Bible, open to interpretation-the basis for heaps of crazy people doing whatever the hell they want.

by offload Wed 29 Oct 2014, 3:14 pm

disneychilly wrote: Because rugby's laws are like the Bible, open to interpretation-the basis for heaps of crazy people doing whatever the hell they want.

Now there's an analogy I hadn't considered! If religion lasted for 80 minutes once a week with a hot dog and a pint at half time perhaps I'd convert.

by TobyBryant Wed 29 Oct 2014, 6:18 pm

Nigel Owens is tweeting from the Maldives today - so he should be well rested and the only Welshman in the UK with a real tan.

Anyone read his book? It's fascinating to read of his obsession with the beauty of the All Blacks and his opinions on English rugby being laid so plain whilst he is still officiating.

by **George Carlin** Wed 29 Oct 2014, 7:39 pm

Nigel is a terrific character and had terrible difficulty accepting his sexuality - he was extremely troubled for a while and (like Gareth Thomas) very, very unhappy. That he came through is a huge testament to him - this was a very good interview:

Of the current crop, I think Jaco Peyper is excellent and very charismatic.

My favourite refs ever are Clive Norling and the Kiwi David Bishop.

by **Biltong** Wed 29 Oct 2014, 8:02 pm

Thanks for that George, good interview

by ChequeredJersey Wed 29 Oct 2014, 8:20 pm

aucklandlaurie wrote:
GeordieFalcon wrote:That is a huge problem with Steve Walsh. He seems to feel he has to be the centre of attention, like an actor on the stage.

The best refs are almost anonnymous ensuring the game flows smoothly and fairly...letting the players be the stars.

But he consistently ~~facilitates~~ gets given the best games despite previous for detracting from them.

by doctor_grey Wed 29 Oct 2014, 8:41 pm

fa0019 wrote:
doctor_grey wrote:
fa0019 wrote:I simply recall the days when no one cared about the referee, no one complained about the referee, no one knew their names and we didn't hide behind their decisions to patch up the truth of the state of our various teams.
Were those the days before internet chat?

when wireless meant something completely different doc!

yesterday, when I was young.................

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