Yesterday's ref - Christopher Berdos

[bluntiger]

Can we swap Berdos and Poite for 2 of our English referees please? You can have any 2 you like, although you can have Wayne Barnes for free

Chris White top of the list. Alternate penalties come scrum-time as he has no idea what is going on.

[Bill W (2)]

Chris White top of the list. Alternate penalties come scrum-time as he has no idea what is going on.

Following at least six resets!

[SkippyTiger]

M. Berdos confirmed my previously expressed view that French refs are indeed the best in the world.

Mr.Owens should take note that he used both arms to signal kicks at goal. And that he did not constantly shout "no hands" and "roll away" - he just stuck an arm out!

Without a doubt the most annoying thing some refs do is try to 'coach' a team into playing by the laws.

"Hands off Green!"

"I said hands off!"

"Do that again and I'll maybe think about a penalty"

He's got on hands on the ball, you've called 'Ruck', just ping him!

"Roll away tackler!"
Tackler rolls away 30 secs later than he should of, no penalty given, ball nicely slowed down.

If you see it, don't mention it to the player in the hope that he'll maybe be so very nice as to stop or possibly not do it for quite so long next time, the little scamp. That metal thing... lives round your neck or in your gob... it's called a whistle.. use it early and the game will suddenly have less people rolling around in offside positions.

[bluntiger]

Players are taught to 'play the referee'.

For example, if the referee blows for an off-side at the first kick-off (if they are offside) then they immediately stop staying offside at restarts. Likewise slowing the ball, collapsing the scrum etc.

However, if he doesn't they will play to what he referees and continue to do what is not penalised.

Pointe carded Paine for collapsing the scrums under pressure from Cole, and we dominated all afternoon - because our scrum was far superior. Job done by the referee!

[Bill W (2)]

Pointe carded Paine for collapsing the scrums under pressure from Cole, and we dominated all afternoon - because our scrum was far superior. Job done by the referee!

Alas, far too many see their job as "managing the game" and neutralising any advantage a particular side may have.