Gherkin1971
Academy Player
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2015
- Messages
- 2
Hello Everyone,
As always this weekend’s rugby displayed that the love of the game is inexorably tangled up in the ebb and flow of varyingly accurate/inaccurate successful/less successful human decisions. I don't know about you but typically such decisions usually just add fuel to my passion and resolve to belligerently and stubbornly invest ever higher levels of heart/souls/mind support for my team to win.
Unfortunately based on the quality and consistency of refereeing decisions making displayed in this weekend's Wales/Ireland match it seems now that players, in addition to taking on the official RBS rules, have to also make not inconsiderable allowances to a set of markedly divergent and inconsistent whims, perspectives and so potentially biased interpretations of whatever rugby referee turns up on the day. Sorry I know this sounds like a rant against referees generally - who I full-heatedly recognise as having a thankless and difficult job - honestly I don't think it is a rant except in the particular case of Wayne Barnes.
Typically referees like most of us have good and bad days and as stated previously I would suggest that this usually just all adds to the visceral, passionate sense of indignation, experienced glory, satisfaction and despair that naturally follows from committing our of pride, hope and loyalty to our various local and national teams.
What I think is worth drawing your attention to is consistently (or even just perceived as consistently) poor refereeing. I would suggest that when all our hearts collectively sink on hearing that a particular referee is facilitating fair play for our particular fixture - surely something is wrong.
Today, despite being ENTIRELY dispassionate about the result of the Ireland/Wales match I kept thinking - "This isn't about who plays best in a game of rugby - it is about what Wayne Barnes wants - his view, his opinions, his whims, his prejudices, the perceived past slights, flatteries he has been subject to ... Wayne ...... Wayne ...... WAYNE.
Thankfully from England's perspective - Wayne seems able to hold a grudge for at least a fortnight (many thanks to whomever said that this refereeing appointment would be free from bias - we owe you!) - so was happy to punish the Irish in the last 10 minutes or so to ensure they didn't win. I really do hope they challenge the decisions he made - not to change the output of the game really - just to hold him to account. I think the funniest thing is even he doesn't seem to see any consistent bias in his decisions making. Please tell me there is an independent body assigned to review bias in rugby refereeing so that obvious fraudulent betting options are curtailed!!
Whilst I am happy that Wayne's god complex meant Ireland's last 5 minute performance was nullified - given his ego-sensitive action and history e.g. see Dylan Hartley. I am worried that unless his ability comes under appropriate levels of scrutiny that all players -
- A. Will be so nervous to actually play rugby rather than fall foul of Wayne's disapproval - that it will ruin it for us in the stands
- B. That any result will be so bias by Way’s view's of what good "is" that the result is only valid in his mind and so all competitions he is involved with will be seen as pointless and without honour
- C. That so many start/stop/penalties will be awarded that everyone will switch off from the sport or just wish that WB would let the game flow without his ego getting in the way
At the end of the day when someone’s judgement is repeatedly REPEATEDLY questioned and is seen as a barrier to sporting endeavour and a great sporting occasion rather than something that upholds "fair play" supports sporting prowess SURELY their role or at least their ability to operate as an independent facilitator on such occasions must be questioned.
Rugby is about character, passion as skill - and referees are there to help those qualities come to the fore not punish players or the energy in a game. Can I suggest it’s all about moderation and making sure us punters are allowed to witness the sporting event we paid to see. Sure rules must be observed - but not in a way that makes every dread when a particular referee's involvement - especially one like Wayne that appears to 0offer such an insecure over-officious approach. If everyone hearts sink ever time WB is put in charge - and especially based on his past impact and reputation - lets recognise that Wayne is (at the very least) ruining our enjoyment of rugby. As a psychologist I can tell you that if left unchecked he won't wake up to the fact that us supporters, the players and the sport itself are his customers and he is there to facilitate the spectacle - not legislate against and punish those daring enough to misinterpret his perspective.
In summary - basically please lets stop this man (as well meaning as he may be) getting in the way of us feeling the end result achieved by both team reflected there passion and abilities rather than Wayne's view of how naughty they had been in his mind.
Please stop this oddity and anomaly from ruining our national love of the best game in the world
Yours
An England/Ireland/Scottish/Irish (to a lesser extent French ...... or to be fair Italian) rugby passionate devotee
PS So .....................What are our next steps in pursuing WB's removal as a professional rugby referee (post England winning the 2015 6 nations obviously)?
As always this weekend’s rugby displayed that the love of the game is inexorably tangled up in the ebb and flow of varyingly accurate/inaccurate successful/less successful human decisions. I don't know about you but typically such decisions usually just add fuel to my passion and resolve to belligerently and stubbornly invest ever higher levels of heart/souls/mind support for my team to win.
Unfortunately based on the quality and consistency of refereeing decisions making displayed in this weekend's Wales/Ireland match it seems now that players, in addition to taking on the official RBS rules, have to also make not inconsiderable allowances to a set of markedly divergent and inconsistent whims, perspectives and so potentially biased interpretations of whatever rugby referee turns up on the day. Sorry I know this sounds like a rant against referees generally - who I full-heatedly recognise as having a thankless and difficult job - honestly I don't think it is a rant except in the particular case of Wayne Barnes.
Typically referees like most of us have good and bad days and as stated previously I would suggest that this usually just all adds to the visceral, passionate sense of indignation, experienced glory, satisfaction and despair that naturally follows from committing our of pride, hope and loyalty to our various local and national teams.
What I think is worth drawing your attention to is consistently (or even just perceived as consistently) poor refereeing. I would suggest that when all our hearts collectively sink on hearing that a particular referee is facilitating fair play for our particular fixture - surely something is wrong.
Today, despite being ENTIRELY dispassionate about the result of the Ireland/Wales match I kept thinking - "This isn't about who plays best in a game of rugby - it is about what Wayne Barnes wants - his view, his opinions, his whims, his prejudices, the perceived past slights, flatteries he has been subject to ... Wayne ...... Wayne ...... WAYNE.
Thankfully from England's perspective - Wayne seems able to hold a grudge for at least a fortnight (many thanks to whomever said that this refereeing appointment would be free from bias - we owe you!) - so was happy to punish the Irish in the last 10 minutes or so to ensure they didn't win. I really do hope they challenge the decisions he made - not to change the output of the game really - just to hold him to account. I think the funniest thing is even he doesn't seem to see any consistent bias in his decisions making. Please tell me there is an independent body assigned to review bias in rugby refereeing so that obvious fraudulent betting options are curtailed!!
Whilst I am happy that Wayne's god complex meant Ireland's last 5 minute performance was nullified - given his ego-sensitive action and history e.g. see Dylan Hartley. I am worried that unless his ability comes under appropriate levels of scrutiny that all players -
- A. Will be so nervous to actually play rugby rather than fall foul of Wayne's disapproval - that it will ruin it for us in the stands
- B. That any result will be so bias by Way’s view's of what good "is" that the result is only valid in his mind and so all competitions he is involved with will be seen as pointless and without honour
- C. That so many start/stop/penalties will be awarded that everyone will switch off from the sport or just wish that WB would let the game flow without his ego getting in the way
At the end of the day when someone’s judgement is repeatedly REPEATEDLY questioned and is seen as a barrier to sporting endeavour and a great sporting occasion rather than something that upholds "fair play" supports sporting prowess SURELY their role or at least their ability to operate as an independent facilitator on such occasions must be questioned.
Rugby is about character, passion as skill - and referees are there to help those qualities come to the fore not punish players or the energy in a game. Can I suggest it’s all about moderation and making sure us punters are allowed to witness the sporting event we paid to see. Sure rules must be observed - but not in a way that makes every dread when a particular referee's involvement - especially one like Wayne that appears to 0offer such an insecure over-officious approach. If everyone hearts sink ever time WB is put in charge - and especially based on his past impact and reputation - lets recognise that Wayne is (at the very least) ruining our enjoyment of rugby. As a psychologist I can tell you that if left unchecked he won't wake up to the fact that us supporters, the players and the sport itself are his customers and he is there to facilitate the spectacle - not legislate against and punish those daring enough to misinterpret his perspective.
In summary - basically please lets stop this man (as well meaning as he may be) getting in the way of us feeling the end result achieved by both team reflected there passion and abilities rather than Wayne's view of how naughty they had been in his mind.
Please stop this oddity and anomaly from ruining our national love of the best game in the world
Yours
An England/Ireland/Scottish/Irish (to a lesser extent French ...... or to be fair Italian) rugby passionate devotee
PS So .....................What are our next steps in pursuing WB's removal as a professional rugby referee (post England winning the 2015 6 nations obviously)?
