Sir Barnes

[Mark62]

Fantastic game of rugby yesterday at Twickenham, between 2 great sides assisted by a great referee.

I know comments have been made about players flying into rucks with shoulders etc, but that for me is an issue with the whole sport, not just yesterday.

I just thought the way he handled the whole match, his decisiveness, his communication with the players, both during play and during breaks, was right out of the top drawer.
From memory there wasn’t one collapsed scrum, with him constantly praising the front rows before the next engagement, there was certainly no dissent, and the 2 yellow cards were dealt with, with the minimum of fuss, and yes for me it wasn’t a penalty try as Jack Nowell would probably got there to make a tackle.

I assume that is the last domestic game he will officiate in, as he hangs his whistle up after the World Cup.

If it is then thank you Sir Barnes, for the part you have played in hundreds of hours of enjoyable rugby and enjoy your retirement

[strawclearer]

[jgriffin]

[POSTIGER]

Big loss to the sport. Best ref we had by a country mile.

[Tigerbeat]

I assume that is the last domestic game he will officiate in, as he hangs his whistle up after the World Cup.

If it is then thank you Sir Barnes, for the part you have played in hundreds of hours of enjoyable rugby and enjoy your retirement

Talking to him a few weeks ago he was puzzled as he had said he was considering his position as a Referee but had not yet decided. Was likely that he would step down from internationals but was still to be decided on his future.
My suspicion is that we will see him in one more domestic season.
If not, wish him all the best and the time to enjoy with his wife and two kids. Been one of the best referees and is well respected in game. Guess he will team up with BT Sport.

[PGD]

Guess he will team up with BT Sport.

It would be nice if, similar to Spreaders, he got involved with coaching. Not the laws, but how to manage the players & promote a flowing game.

After the number of TMO calls last game, I know one referee who'd benefit from an old hand's wisdom.

But one more season, sir, & come to Welford Rd a few times, please!

[Soggypitch]

Agree with all the comments, he is by far the best ref in the world from what I've seen.

Why would you want to retire when you're in your prime? Doesn't make sense to me.

Hope he stays on for a couple more years yet.

[BFG]

With respect I disagree, for me Barnes is just another ref that tries to coach players through a game of rugby instead of just sticking to refereeing it.
I've little doubt that this is all with "game flow" in mind on instruction from a higher authority but I do find it off putting.
Standards have dropped by this approach, players have lost instincts and it has helped turn rugby into an even messier game of bosh.
Rugby was always highly physical but it's just dangerous now.
The final yesterday was unbelievable to watch but my word how brutal and susceptible to cheap shots it has become, it's physically and mentally demanding on a potentially life changing level in it's repetitiveness at the breakdown and it's all down to relaxed refereeing for game flow!
I don't think Barnes is the great ref, there isn't one with this approach in my opinion, but he is one of the better talkers.
Often I get the impression that without these refs coaching the entire game some players wouldn't know what to do nowadays.

[1989Tiger]

I sometimes wonder why some people bother watching rugby as whatever the subject in discussion is, they always have something negative to say about it.

Sticking to topic, Barnes is the bet ref we have in this country and one of, if not the best in the world.

[BFG]

I sometimes wonder why some people bother watching rugby as whatever the subject in discussion is, they always have something negative to say about it.

Not a lot of point in wondering if you believe it to be negative.
It is what it is!
Any ref who can allow the breakdown mess that took place yesterday by the laws of rugby is not a great ref!

[Mark62]

With respect I disagree, for me Barnes is just another ref that tries to coach players through a game of rugby instead of just sticking to refereeing it.
I've little doubt that this is all with "game flow" in mind on instruction from a higher authority but I do find it off putting.
Standards have dropped by this approach, players have lost instincts and it has helped turn rugby into an even messier game of bosh.
Rugby was always highly physical but it's just dangerous now.
The final yesterday was unbelievable to watch but my word how brutal and susceptible to cheap shots it has become, it's physically and mentally demanding on a potentially life changing level in it's repetitiveness at the breakdown and it's all down to relaxed refereeing for game flow!
I don't think Barnes is the great ref, there isn't one with this approach in my opinion, but he is one of the better talkers.
Often I get the impression that without these refs coaching the entire game some players wouldn't know what to do nowadays.

Complete twaddle, but it is your opinion, not coaching rather reffing pro actively rather than reactively, ask the players which they prefer.
I know you still go by the 1980s lawbook bfg but it doesn’t mean everyone else has to

[BFG]

With respect I disagree, for me Barnes is just another ref that tries to coach players through a game of rugby instead of just sticking to refereeing it.
I've little doubt that this is all with "game flow" in mind on instruction from a higher authority but I do find it off putting.
Standards have dropped by this approach, players have lost instincts and it has helped turn rugby into an even messier game of bosh.
Rugby was always highly physical but it's just dangerous now.
The final yesterday was unbelievable to watch but my word how brutal and susceptible to cheap shots it has become, it's physically and mentally demanding on a potentially life changing level in it's repetitiveness at the breakdown and it's all down to relaxed refereeing for game flow!
I don't think Barnes is the great ref, there isn't one with this approach in my opinion, but he is one of the better talkers.
Often I get the impression that without these refs coaching the entire game some players wouldn't know what to do nowadays.

Complete twaddle, but it is your opinion, not coaching rather reffing pro actively rather than reactively, ask the players which they prefer.
I know you still go by the 1980s lawbook bfg but it doesn’t mean everyone else has to

So, please explain to me how a referee can allow players to go off their feet so regularly at rucks yesterday, allow several high tackles, allowed the occasional forearm around the throat in attempts to hold up, and allowed an illegal neck roll on Barritt, and yet still be considered a great referee?

[Mark62]

I have already covered going off their feet, it is endemic in the game and won’t changed unless the law makers do so.
What high tackles and shots, examples please, because the 4 officials didn’t see any, and in fact the only serious injury in the game was a complete accident.

What would you rather watch a free flowing entertaining game, or one where the whistle is blown every 30 seconds.
I would rather watch the first I suspect you would rather the second

[BFG]

I have already covered going off their feet, it is endemic in the game and won’t changed unless the law makers do so.
What high tackles and shots, examples please, because the 4 officials didn’t see any, and in fact the only serious injury in the game was a complete accident.

What would you rather watch a free flowing entertaining game, or one where the whistle is blown every 30 seconds.
I would rather watch the first I suspect you would rather the second

Anything endemic in the game is only so because it's allowed to be, that's all down to refereeing to stop it!
The Nowell incident was worthy of further sanction in my opinion, because the law says that tacklers are supposed to immediately release the tackled player, instead Nowell is literally bent on and over backwards by the tackler on the floor and is injured because of it, it's a penalty and for me it's a card offence!

[Mark62]

You watch your game BFG the rest of us will watch ours