AB will be sighing in relief that Garces has not got the gig since he actually applied the laws to the AB at the breakdown, hence the penalty count. Owens is the best ref in the world, however, and should get the job. He has the right manner, skills and gravitas for this. I guess the "he likes NZ" comes from the non try he awarded NZ at Twickers when the sliding player did not reach the line but he did not go upstairs? Only joking, he makes mistakes, he's human. All us refs are, although I don't claim to be anything like his class!
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What you seem to be saying is that he should only apply the laws against 'real' cheating. Is there mild cheating that is ok? If you are standing in front of the back foot and not bound onto the ruck you are offside, if you don't come in through the gate that is coming in at the side, if you go over the ruck and onto your hands you are not supporting your own body weight and thus off feet, etc, etc. Should these things be ignored? It's this mentality that has allowed the scrum to be reduced (at international level) to a restart with lots of dark arts trying to force penalties rather than a genuine contest because the feed is never straight (sorry "credible"). Teams breaking the laws should be penalised, if they aren't then what's the point??? Did Joubert help the spectacle and fairness of the 2011 final by constantly ignoring coming in at the side by McCaw and then getting told off by the IRB? I agree that if the ball is clearly won and is either turned over immediately or clearly coming back then there is some room to ignore law breaking as it does not affect the outcome but if you decide that in the interests of a fast flowing game you'll turn a blind eye to sealing off, off feet, etc then you are not officiating the game properly. Should we ignore knock ons or forward passes if calling them would break up the flow of the game?