In an interesting turn of events referees will finally be publicly accountable for their decisions at Post Game Press Conferences of Super 14 rugby matches this season, a result of the refereeing hierarchy’s efforts to add transparency & accountability to the game’s whistlers and their decisions.
NZRU high performance referee manager Lyndon Bray said “They (referees) have probably always been slightly threatened in the past by the concept of facing up on TV after games,” Bray told Radio Sport. “We’ve all acknowledged this is probably an important step. It brings us into line with the coaches and the players, who also have to do this.”
Whistle blowers have been the talk of the town in the lead up to this year’s Super 14 after it was announced there will be an emphasis on enforcing breakdown interpretations more literally from the law book.
This, Bray said, should create a more flowing spectacle than the kick-dominated play of 2009. He said yellow cards could be produced earlier in games this year to deal with players unwilling to adjust their attitude.
This could make the post-game media frenzy … oops I mean press conference … as big a juicy spectacle as the game itself ! Some journos are surely salivating at the opportunity to hoist certain whistle blowers by their own petards …
“This could make the post-game media frenzy … oops I mean press conference”
Would love to hear their opinions, hell this will turn into a bloodbath.
Referees will come out of the shadows and players and coaches will be expected to provide real-time comments during games as Sanzar and Sky Sport try to spice up the Super 14.
Long hidden behind their whistles, Sanzar’s referees will be interviewed before and after matches as part of a co-ordinated push to woo fans back to grounds and viewers to their TV sets.
New Zealand Rugby Union commercial manager Paul Dalton said rugby needed to provide a more complete match-day experience and provide better value for money.
“You compare ourselves to some other sports … such as the V8 racing where you are talking to the guy in the car while he’s racing, you talk to him as soon as he’s won and you talk to him halfway through the race,” he said.
“It’s moving our bar a little further in that direction and making it more exciting. When you are at home, hopefully there will be a bit more access to some of the things behind the scenes.”
The truth of the matter is that the referees can’t agree on interpretaion of the rules the world over.
Is this going to apply only in the SH or worldwide?
I watched all 3 Six Nations games, and NONE of the ref’s blew the breakdown as strictly as has been done during the televised “friendlies” show in SA.
It’s a crock of sh1t IMO. Paddy O’Brian and his bunch of thieves? Robbing from Peter to pay Paul as they see fit.
I hope the media crucify some of the half blind, fools for their one sidedness. Maybe it’ll sort the crap out once and for all.
This will be interesting but the refs will dodge questions.
“I will have to review the video before i can comment on that”
“I blow it as i see it”.
“I had tears in my eyes from the beautiful try that was scored, so no i did not see the player stab the other player with a screwdriver”
These are some answers we might expect after the game.
I feel like a kid in sight of the lolly jar … imagine Stu Dikinson caught in the glare of accountability … it will be like a magic carpet ride … the sheer contemplative joy makes me rub my little mitts together & giggle just thinking about it ! 😆
hehehehe
Yes Princess, interesting times to follow indeed.
Now they should implement some sort of a sighting systen for the refs aswell…
I mean if a man makes a mistake, he doesn’t need to be crucified for example a player being offside doesn’t get suspended but for serious injustices they should be penalised likewise and it must be made public.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, Referees accountable…. about to be grilled by the media…. what a wonderful prospect… hehehehe
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