As a Rugby League tragic, I find myself constantly challenged by some of the decisions I see in the NRL, which had left me glad that come September I was glad to tune out of the finals series and switch over to Rugby.
I watch both codes quite closely in terms of quality of Rugby played and also the level of consistency. I was tired of the NRL’s inconsistent calls that were and high tackles that weren’t, and good tackles that were. Decisions that were made for some and not for others. A two refereeing system which has the games fans up in arms. So naturally, I was keen to cross-codes and watch the Rugby World Union Cup where Australia’s Wallabies where playing in Japan.
[Wales vs Australia]
A great contest in what should have been between the worlds top (excluding NZ) Rugby Union teams. The opening 10 minutes was great, Wales leading 10-0 and though watching on as a Wallabies supporter, it was a game for attacking teams.
[Enter Romain Poite]
Question marks over the quality of referee Romain Poite began when Welsh Captain Alan Wyn Jones carried the ball and was caught around the shoulder with an arm close to the throat. Gaining a penalty advantage, Fly Half Dan Biggar kick passed to winger Hadleigh Parkes who crossed for the first try. Australia then upped the tempo with a try of their own – through their own Adam Ashley-Cooper. The game, though in the first half reached a critical balance with the Welsh leading 13-8.
Australia, behind on the scoreboard saught to increase the tempo with some crunching runs from the backline.
Romain Poite came into question when The Australian centre Samu Kerevi was penalised for running ‘with his elbows’ high to break the first tackler (Hadleigh Parkes). When referee Romain Poite summoned Wallabies Captain Michael Hooper to explain the offensive foul, Rugby’s interpretation then stretched to run hard, but not too hard. Michael Hooper responded, “That is a strong carry. And that’s just poor tackling technique.” (From Hadleigh Parkes). The Welsh defender was no doubt knocked out, but painstakingly due to putting his head in the wrong place of the on-coming Kerevi. The result? A ten point turn around, where off the restart for a penalty goal, Gareth Davies scored an immediate intercept try to add insult to injury. Kerevi’s only crime ? Running the ball too hard. Wales leading at the break 23-8 ahead as Australia had moments earlier produced some continuity, but now a mountain to over climb.
[Enter Romain Garces and Ben Skeen, Wales vs Fiji]
Enter Fiji, one of the great entertainers of Rugby. Physically and tactially out-knoussed Wales in a number of one-on-one collisions, tackles and breakaways. Somehow, you got the feelings we were in for a difficult night as the first half went for a longer than allocated 54 minutes, longer than the standard 40.
Ben Skeen, The TMO was consistently in Roman Garces ear. Every tackle, run, ball and incident was scrutinised and beginning to hold up play. All in all there were four yellow cards issued, priced at $1.62 to happen on SportsBet in game, with a clear Red Card incident that wasn’t awarded.
What ended up happening was that the dominance that Fiji had asserted early on was being ruined by the referees consistent ability to hold up play.
Hard tackles that got the crowd ‘off their seats’ and the commentator ‘reminiscing’ of the hard-hitting Fiji Pasifika days, were being put on the big screen by the NZ Television referee, Ben Skeen. Incidents of foul play for high tackles were even over looked, as the TMO would over-rule referee Jerome Garces, for plays of petty crimes. This is a contact sport. This is Rugby.
