Mr Rolland

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Ehm, I can represent Austria, but I have no feeling with the country, what so ever. My surname is also Austrian (like Rolland's name is French). Every referee makes mistakes, they are human!

 

[TNT88]

Given Mr Rollands parentage any significant decisions given by Mr Rolland in favour of France (as in his last 2 games) may OR MAY NOT be seen as bias whether that bias exists or not.
Therefore to avoid the issue even raising its head in the future I would understand if the IRB were to say to Mr Rolland that he cannot referee games involving France just as he cant refereee games involving Ireland.

So this position can basically be summed up as : "idiots will launch allegations of bias at the IRB stemming from ignorance, therefore we should not let refs referee games involving countries their ancestors happened to be born in".

This would HARM refereeing standards for NO GOOD REASON. It is simple.

People always rant about how great it would be if professional players became referees. So lets consider this. James O'Connor is eligible for SA, NZ and AUS. If he decides to take up refereeing after his playing days, his reffing career will come to a halt as soon as he reaches semi-professional refereeing. He will be ineligible to referee or touch judge ANY tri/quad nations games. He would need to move his entire family overseas to continue reffing, something he might not be able to do. And why? Because we need to protect the IRB from a tiny portion of unwarranted criticism.

This is just one example. There are plenty more pointing out how this "policy" would be a massive blow for test rugby refereeing. (and before you say "I'm only talking about Rolland", the IRB would be sued for discrimination if they singled him out)

We've come across all these arguments before. And I'm extremely skeptical than anyone pushing them is least the concerned about the IRB's image.

 

[Prestwick]

I don't think Rolland is biased in favour of either France or Ireland. However I do think that he is simply a poor and very inconsistent referee and I've seen this when he has reffed other non-england games.

Was chatting with the guy who does my coffee at work, a Durban born Saffa and keen Sharks fan and even he was shocked at how France were constantly entering rucks illegally and not getting pinged for it. Definitely isn't sympathetic to England but he does have scruples.

 

[mstar]

I don't think Rolland is biased in favour of either France or Ireland. However I do think that he is simply a poor and very inconsistent referee and I've seen this when he has reffed other non-england games.

Was chatting with the guy who does my coffee at work, a Durban born Saffa and keen Sharks fan and even he was shocked at how France were constantly entering rucks illegally and not getting pinged for it. Definitely isn't sympathetic to England but he does have scruples.

agree

 

[mikefoot1]

As a Welsh man, I cannot look past the red at the world cup. But after the 6 nations and giving him another chance, I do think he is a very poor and inconsistent ref.



Waiting the abuse/counter arguement/ being told to shut up

 

[j'nuh]

For what it's worth, one of my best friends back in school got into rugby through his grandparents, who were diehard Wales fans, and so he is too. He was born to English parents in England though, so would be classed as an English ref. Knowing this, it'd be dead strange thinking that a Welsh fan would be allowed to referee Welsh games. So I totally understand what the OP is getting at.

The issue is that we'd have to find more decent referees who can speak multiple languages without having these eligibility issues - it would be an unfair advantage if one team understood the ref when the ref warns the players "not to put hands in the ruck" or to "use the ball" etc., but the other team doesn't. The other option is to tell referees not to "help" the players, but I don't think this would be good for the sport as a spectacle.

 

[Feicarsinn]

As a Welsh man, I cannot look past the red at the world cup. But after the 6 nations and giving him another chance, I do think he is a very poor and inconsistent ref.



Waiting the abuse/counter arguement/ being told to shut up

Oh bloody hell, it's widely acknowledged that Warburton deserved his red. Get over it.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's tummy how nobody ever takes Rolland himself into these arguments. He always comes across as a very professional person to me, even if he isn't a great ref at times, I think if he did feel a connection to France and felt he would be bias towards them he would refuse to ref their matches.

 

[RedWhite&Green]

I think Rolland had lost his cool by then. That penalty against Croft was ridiculous, the way i saw it Croft was trying to hold back Rougerie although it did look strange!

Rougerie following up the kick tackled Foden by grabbing his goolies! Ashton was the one who ran in and objected, am pretty sure Croft didn't do anything other than hold on to Rougerie, perhaps to prevent anything further occuring? I wasn't sure at the time why Rolland gave a penalty and having watched it several times I still don't see anything to warrant one.