- Joined
- Sep 20, 2011
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England
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Bath
Well firstly, we DID have the same ref in the Scotland game and SH teams complain about French refs too. In fact everyone that isn't French complains about French refs. Also part of "playing the referee" includes the bit where if you aren't infringing and the other side are, he punishes them as much and also doesn't make 2 dodgy try calls. so since 2019 he alone has contributed to 3 clear tries being awarded against England that shouldn't have, 2 directly as a result of his own actions.Then let us wait for the match assessment to see the final call.
Just a quick point : UK and Irish players are often surprised at the way the French ref a game (breakdown, offside when kicking, playing while off your feet ...). Itoje would be sanctioned every 5 min in a top 14 match, the Irish 6 to 8 would be in trouble for the way the come into a maul. You have a French ref once in every 3 games in a 6N.
French players are often surprised at the way the UK or Irish ref a game (breakdown, coming on the side of a maul, being offside in a maul while bound with an opponent player). They have UK or Irish refs 4 or 5 times in a 6N.
That's the reason why southern hemisphere refs were called in, to provide for more diversity.
Gauzere did not play into Wales tactics, he has been an international referee for 7 years. The way Hill and Itoje played just did not fit his standards. You have to play the referee. The Welsh did.
And in the end, the penalty count for England was very similar to what it was against Scotland and Italy. Biased referees there as well ?