Pallard’s Weblog

This is the conclusion to the foul play series.  These are usually fun to look at so they may be revisited in the not so distant future.

I hope this is to stir up a bit more discussion.  As this is a class project I find it a lot easier for others to do the work for me.  So, here I pose the question for discussion and if you have an opinion either way do me a favor and let me know it.

So have a look at the end of the play where the white team’s scrum half is in the midst of a tackle and a brief upward movement with his knee.  Referees are not to judge intent but to judge fact.

Do you think that if the referee was solely judging the incident, was a yellow card warranted.

Well, thanks Dave and Christine for your comments.  I am thinking I shouldn’t make them public, until I am ready for the next post which is what did the referee actually do… Play on.

This has some significant consequences later on in the match.  As illustrated in the videos below.  By not setting your standard early, players may be confused as to what is acceptable.

Take a look at this video and let me know what you would do if you were the referee.  Take a look at where the player is making contact.

Finally, I have some direction.  Unlike my last few post that were quite personal and ambiguous, I am finally getting some direction.  With Rugby as one of many passions in my life I struggle to find good resources.  As part of my recent trip I have acquire some pearls of wisdom that would be better shared with the ‘oh so small’ refereeing community in hope to abolishing referee abuse and enlarging the group.

In this post, I pose a question, “What would you do if you were the referee?”  Take a look at the video, post a comment and in my next post I will post the rest of the pertinent information with a further video in need of discussion.  I hope this works as well as I had planned.

Rightio

Finals Day had some interesting outcomes.  Canada took home the wooden spoon losing to Korea which was controlled by Julien.  Onomichi narrowly defeated Toin Gakuen for 11th which was refereed by myself (17 – 12) which came down to the very last minutes.  James whistled in the 5th and 6th placement which saw Higashi Fukuoka give England a run for their money but eventually ran out of steam and Simon had the gold medal match between a beaten up french team vs a strong and energized South African team which took the last game by 40 points.

Taizo took the referees out for the post tournament wrap up that was quite fitting for all our long hard work.  Kompai!

more from around Japan soon.

Yesterday was the top of the table clashes.  New Zealand fell to South Africa and France defeated Australia.  I left the France vs Australia game with a sour taste in my mouth.  The game was full of niggle and two yellow cards was the result.  I keep thinking how could I have prevented those send offs?  

The Canadian team today lost so they are fighting for the wooden spoon tomorrow.  It would be nice if they came away with at least one win.  They scored more tries today than they have all tournament so thats looking up.  Tomorrow sees RSA vs FFR in the Grand Final and AUS vs NZ in the consolation.  Not sure yet who is refereeing yet but i won’t have the wooden spoon

Last night the new group of Japanese referees took us out on the town again for a melting pot style dinner.  The restaurant was a whole in the wall style in what appeared to be a back alley.  When we entered we walked by a narrow bar style seating to the back where we climbed up a ladder like stair case and sat at a traditional style japanese eating area complete with grass mats and low tables.

The meal started with goma aye and horse sashimi including slices from the main which was straight gristle; it was very chewy and needed soy, ginger and wasabi to get down.  The meat part was nice, complete with chives, ginger and soy.

Our host then ordered the main course which was cow intestines boiled in chicken stock with cabbage and chives.  Again, it was very chewy but didn’t need too much saki or beer to get it down.  We finished with a stomach settling noodle soup (in the same pot as the cow intestines and chicken stock) paid the rather expensive bill and proceeded to another bar for a drink and snacks.

After a quick drink, level heads prevailed and we took the last train back to Global Arena as we do have to referee some fairly high level matches today.  James has the 1st match in the 5-8 side (Fiji vs England) Julien has the second match in that (two japanese schools), I have the 1st match in the 1-4 side (France vs Australia) and Simon is controlling the final match of the day, New Zealand vs South Africa.