Jon Kaplan has been stood down for three weeks

[profitius]

The laws of the game have to be looked at. They're almost impossible to ref and theres too much that comes down to personal opinion which can be biased not to mention wrong.

 

[smartcooky]

Ah, cheers for the clear up!
Certainly does seem like Kaplans fault (though the not-straight and Rees stepping in field to throw the quickly taken lineout are down to the touch judge )

That is down to his judgement. You see players stepping into the field of play at just about every line-out in the game these days. As long as the whole foot does not go into the FoP, most referees will let it go (unless the referees name is Jim Fleming; those here who are either All Black or Ireland supporters, and are old enough, will know what I am talking about.)

You see plenty of not-straights too, but his biggest gaffe in thinking it was a quickly taken line-out was that there were not two Wales players at the line-of-touch.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Most of the other referees I have spoken to believe that Jon Kaplan was primarily at fault for this.

If you watch the video and listen to he and the Assistant Referee Peter Allen talking, you can hear Kaplan cutting him off in mid sentence. Allen was trying to explain what happened and Kaplan just cuts him off, wanting a yes or no answer to a question which required more than a yes or no.

1. Allen was standing on the line-of-touch with his flag raised and his other arm out. This indicates the possibility of a quick throw in is ruled out.

2. When the Welsh player throws in the ball, Allen allows this as a quickly taken line-out, (which is not the same as a quick throw in)

3. Kaplan has his back to all of this, and doesn't see any of it.

4. Kaplan thought it was quick throw-in and he asks "Was it the correct ball"? (note: he didn't ask if it was the same ball, and this is crucial)

5. Allen replies "Yes" because he is thinking quick line-out, not quick throw in, and he knows it doesn't matter which ball is used.

This was all down to a cock-up in communication. Kaplan asked the wrong question, and then would not allow Allen to talk to him. Allen may cop some of the blame for not being assertive enough, but the responsibility for this error lies fairly and squarely on Kaplan's shoulders.

Ahhh explains quite a bit. As Olyy said thanks for the clear up.

 

[munstermuffin]

If we get technical though and this was a quick line-out then as RTE showed in one angle the lineout was not straight and therefor should've been a scrum/lineout to Ireland.

Also there was Irish players in the line and regardless it cant be even taken quick and 99 times out of 100 a ref would stop it.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

If we get technical though and this was a quick line-out then as RTE showed in one angle the lineout was not straight and therefor should've been a scrum/lineout to Ireland.

Also there was Irish players in the line and regardless it cant be even taken quick and 99 times out of 100 a ref would stop it.

Ireland got a few non-straight throws their way through the game. Part and parcel of the game at times. I do believe Kaplan was judged on his entire performance over the last couple of weeks which have been dire.

 

[shtove]

4. Kaplan thought it was quick throw-in and he asks "Was it the correct ball"? (note: he didn't ask if it was the same ball, and this is crucial)

Aaah. I thought he asked, "Was it the correct CALL?" Easy to misunderstand when the Welsh are screaming blood of heaven!

Not sure about the distinction between correct ball and same ball.

Kaplan's case must be that the ball kicked to touch was not available, that a new ball was being used, that the new ball was correct for a quick-take (not throw), and there was otherwise nothing wrong with the quick-take.

I'd give him the straight throw as a matter of judgment, and the only real criticism must be whether there was lineout formation.

That's marginal, but the IRB must have concluded it was clearly a quick throw rather than a quick take.

Kaplan may deserve the stand down, but how to prevent such a simple mistake in future? Get rid of the idea of the quick take?

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland got a few non-straight throws their way through the game. Part and parcel of the game at times. I do believe Kaplan was judged on his entire performance over the last couple of weeks which have been dire.

I'm not arguing that was just saying if it going in to fine detail

My view is match over and result stands so lets move on and well the good refs will always rise to the top.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I'm not arguing that was just saying if it going in to fine detail

My view is match over and result stands so lets move on and well the good refs will always rise to the top.

Ye fair, im coming from the point of view its half a dozen of one thing and half a dozen of the other. To be fair the game will always be remembered for the try.

 

[shtove]

To be fair the game will always be remembered for the try.

Yes, BOD scored on a nice line from Bowe's magic.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

IRB must act to prevent repeat of farce

Interesting little read.