Thorb's Referee Rankings Posted over 12 years ago

AB’s v TONGA – G.CLANCEY
6.5/10

1. Good control of scrum cadence, with few resets (2) and penalty free kicks for scrum offences.
2. Lost some control of scrums later in game (potentially due to replacements on and players tiring)
3. Lineout throw teams into huddles—ploy or crowd noise? Needs tidying up.
4. Needs to be tougher on players being taken out or held around breakdown and players off feet, sealing and bridging in ball carrying team.
5. Obstruction at kick receipts not a problem in this game.
6. Calls the 5 second maul allowance and ensures ball played in reasonable time.
7. Allowing legitimate ‘clean out’ at post tackle.
8. Underdog sympathetic rulings late in game specifically scrum and breakdown.
9. Consistent decision making most of game—a benefit to players and spectators.
10. Reliance on assistant referees to assist with 10 m offside rulings at kick chase. Not sure of direction given to referees and assistant referees by IRB for this tournament. As with assistance for post tackle offences.

SCOTLAND v ROMANIA – D PEARSON
6.0/10

1. As in 1 above.
2. Understanding the ramifications of a very dominant scrums effect on that phase, very good.
3. Calls the “RUCK”, is of much assistance at post tackle as ref is sole arbiter of when the post tackle turns into a “RUCK”.
4. Did not rule on apparent Obstruction by Scottish at kick receipts.
5. Scotland’s “tackling” of players in the “air” at lineout not ruled, also an Assistant Referee issue.

FIJI v NAMIBIA – N OWENS
7.0/10

1. Ball carrying team hit for going off feet and sealing — as is the law — but handled with discretion.
2. Accurately hard on slow release by tackled players — Good.
3. Very consistent and accurate at breakdown.
4. Unobtrusive; handled scuffle at end of game with aplomb. Consistent and firm.
5. Good call on players in front of kicker (10 m offside line) only ref to call it I think. Vital to call this up.
6. Advantage law used well and fairly
7. Communicates and explains his calls very well.

FRANCE v JAPAN – S WALSH
6.0/10

1. Clear and decisive calls at breakdown.
2. Handled “fake or rest time”injury situations very well.
3. Not pulling up French attacking Japanese lineout jumper in the Air (also assistant referee).
4. Not stopping French at 10 m offside in front of kicker (own team).
5. Very Lenient on Players off feet at breakdown, most lenient of refs up till now. Consistency will alleviate much of this problem.
6. Very little assistant referee influence on game(Rolland and Terhage).
7. Lax at players in at side (Nalet) and standing in front of hindmost feet close to ruck.

ENGLAND v ARGENTINA – B LAWRENCE
7.0/10

1. Pen count at 27 for game, not that they were unwarranted, in fact could have been much more stringent on England players rolling and lying between ball and opposition; and other on ground offences. He suffered from a style of play that thrives on slowing the ball down, The Argies were not entirely innocent either.
2. Rules the offside line at breakdown very well, but not calling or ruling on the 10 m offside law from kicks. This is a vital part of enabling the kick receipt team being able to counter attack into wider areas of the field.
3. Clear and accurate communication to players.
4. Rules well on obstruction at lineout out drive set up, however perhaps a little inconsistent at this facet.
5. Cadence was a bit slow at scrum.
6. Huddles by England pre lineout, slowing play down.
7. Hits offside line at breakdown but does allow tackler to stay over the ball without lifting hands away before re-engaging. Likely a timing thing.

AUSTRALIA v ITALY – A ROLLAND
6.0/10

1. 24 penalties.
2. Explains offside at breakdown to players.
3. Another non applicator of 10 m offside law, makes you wonder if the assistant referees have been instructed to not interfere in this rule?
4. Strong at keeping “posts and guards” onside at breakdown, but allowed Australia to go round and play opponents behind the offside line. Not as prevalent as in the Super 15 and Tri Nations though.
5. Called obstruction well in lineout drives.
6. Aware of Pococks “antics” at breakdown relative to releasing before going after the ball. However was not consistent in pulling him up, leading to Australia try from breakout of own 22.
7. Awarded free kick for crooked put in, first one I have seen in more than 2 months of watching worldwide rugby competitions. It is overkill to free kick the slight crooked put in. Later in game ignored the same indiscretions.
8. A bit pedantic by me, but gave crucial penalty to Australia when at ruck he called Blue 1, hands off 2-3 times then penalised him. Perhaps a language problem for the Italian Prop?

IRELAND v USA – A JOUBERT
6.5/10

1. Difficult game in wet and windy conditions.
2. Joubert’s relaxed attitude and non flappable countenance assisted in preventing an unsightly possibility.
3. Showed a relaxed and fair leniency to both teams around ball on ground, he could have blown the game apart.
4. But in second half perhaps let a little too much “go” at breakdown.
5. Did not panic when Ireland “destroyed” the USA Scrum several times in second spell.
6. Has a well balanced and relaxed attitude to the game.

SOUTH AFRICA v WALES – W BARNES
6.5/10

1. V Good scrum cadence, with 2 powerful packs on show.
2. 2 “bent at hips” calls (1 each) to stamp a mark on scrums.
3. Well controlled post tackle area, clear and consistent. Kept Brousouw within the release laws which negated a lot of his game.
4. Accurate and consistent decisions at breakdown especially toward end of game when pressure was intense.
5. Did NOT enforce the 10 m offside law (assistant referees must assist with this in my view.) especially with South Africa kicking from deep so often.
6. Who knew the law around checking for shots at goal? It has occurred in the Super 15 but what does he have assistant referees for?
7. He has become a very competent and “feeling” referee. In my opinion just seems to attract some odd ball situations.