Cardiff Blues vs Connacht

First topic message reminder :

Anyone watching?

Leighton Hodges (as Assistant Referee) gave a pretty dodgy try with a perfect view of it, but the TMO prevailed.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Joaquin Tuculet, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Lou Reed, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 8 Josh Navidi

Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Filo Paulo, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Tom Isaacs

Connacht:
15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Tiernan O'Halloran, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 John Cooney; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 George Naoupu

Replacements:16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 Eoghan Masterson, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Darragh Leader

Ah...poor Nigel will be sad.  He loves coming to Leinster for the craic...

LordDowlais wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Just a thought, Sin meantioned teams of officials.  How about setting up start of the season 6 sets of officials each comprising of 1 Irish, 1 Welsh, 1 Italian and 1 Scot (ref, 2 linesmen and a tmo).  That would rule out any national bias, and just leave us all to slate poor decisions for being just that.

I am all for this, the refs and the linesmen could all rotate, they could all ref one in three, but most of all they could build up a relationship and know where each other needs help the most, but most of all, they would all TRUST each other.

....all paid direct by the IRFU into a Swiss Bank Account and Bob is your very Uncle!     Sure, what would be wrong with it??

Grand.  It's perfect.  It's settled finally.  Let's all Be Friends..

Oh, also, I would like to add, to cajoling with the teams involved in the league you are officiating in, that means no training with a particular team, no socialising with a particular team and no cosying up with any particular team.

I wish the Welsh refs would work with the regions to improve the players understanding of the rules. Lacey says it keeps him on his toes as well. A couple of weeks down training with Munster might help some ref's communications skills.

All the refs who are regarded as being good are generally very good communicators - i.e., Nigel Owens (and for all his sins, Alan Rolland). I used to like Alan Lewis and Joel Jutge as well. I regard Poitre as a poor ref because of his very poor communications skills (though he has improved a lot recently).

Nige and Derek communicating (not Derek the weatherman btw!)....

"This is Nigel Owens, I can award the try ! - Ospreys v Cardiff Blues 21st March 2014"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rG-vYJc1jw

And North is past Henshaw!!!! Oh he's clear!!!! He's clear!!! They're not going to catch him! He's IN for a beautiful No Reason Why It Shouldn't Be A Try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still think simply 'Try' sounds better though

I've noticed our Welsh TMOs are getting on a bit. Gareth Simmonds here.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm3bzWmZd0s