Pro12 final....who should ref

Simple poll. Who do you think should referee the final. The poll is not about who actually, but more about nationality.

Please suggest names, and wether you think a ref can really be impartial, ref'ing a game between a team from his own nation againt a team from another.

Personally, I think any referee who is up to the required standard, providing they are not Irish or Welsh, for the final.

Anyone but Clancy. Haven't seen a game yet that he hasn't killed

Allan Rolland...... .....

Would have to be a Scottish or Italian for me.

Obviously can't be Welsh or Irish and we should 'stick with out own kind' for the final. No need to go outside the nationalities taking part. Scots and Italians have international level referees so no problem.

George Clancy for me

Actually if there's one available if like to see a sh ref do it. I do know that won't happen and it will probably be whoever Leinster choose

Easy answer... Nigel Owens

Head and shoulders the best ref in the British Isles at the moment. Breathes a sigh of relief when he was appointed for the HEC final.

I cannot say what I think of Clancy because I'd be ashamed of the language I'd use

Owens wash picked to ref us this week because "it would be inappropriate for him to ref Leinster 2 weeks in a row".

So he won't be doing the league final either.

Owens would be the best choice, but in his (probable) absence due to reffing the HC Final I'd go for Alain Rolland who I believe is the second best ref in the Celtic Nations.

All this whinging about referees is so one-eyed; they are human and have strengths and weaknesses in their game but they are also all quite impartial.

Out of all of them, I'd go for Owens. If we're ruling out Welsh and Irish refs, I'd go with the Italian ref, Mitrea I think, ahead of any of the scots.

Peter Alan from Scotland, or Marius Mitrea from Italy.

Marius was a lineman at the Ospreys V Leinster game so I am wondering if he will get it.

Interesting that it's only the Irish fans not saying that Clancy was biassed yesterday.

mckay1402 wrote:Interesting that it's only the Irish fans not saying that Clancy was biassed yesterday.

Clancy is a poor ref, he isn't biased, plenty of examples of him giving Glasgow some dubious calls too.

Mickado wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:Interesting that it's only the Irish fans not saying that Clancy was biassed yesterday.

Clancy is a poor ref, he isn't biased, plenty of examples of him giving Glasgow some dubious calls too.

Clancy is not biased, he is a very very good referee, who is a touch to pedantic and only gives an attacking team about two seconds to present the ball when tackled as opposed to the four or five or even six seconds given by 99% of the referees in the world.

I think that Clancy can be a good ref again, he was excellent prior to the RWC.

Maest is correct that he is way to pedantic at the breakdown but he is not bias, he pings both teams eaually. Its hard for him though as if he lets the game flow he gets abused for missing things if he doesnt then he is extremely pedantic. A smooth ground has to be found, thats what makes excellent refs (Owens, Joubert) stand head and shoulders above the rest.

eirebilly wrote:I think that Clancy can be a good ref again, he was excellent prior to the RWC.

Maest is correct that he is way to pedantic at the breakdown but he is not bias, he pings both teams eaually. Its hard for him though as if he lets the game flow he gets abused for missing things if he doesnt then he is extremely pedantic. A smooth ground has to be found, thats what makes excellent refs (Owens, Joubert) stand head and shoulders above the rest.

He misses plenty when he is being pedantic.

His problem is that he emphasises far too much on the wrong areas and lacks patience and dominance.

The first time he took action with the scrum on Saturday was in the 72nd minute. (The scrum hadn't been too hard to referee previously, both sides playing a clean game). But there had been numerous scrum penalties.

His main issue is timing at the break down. He never gives the attacking side enough time and goes straight for a penalty to the defending team if the attacking side have not presented clean ball within two seconds of the tackle. Most referees give three or four seconds for the support to secure the ball and the tackled player to present it, some give much longer.

It may seem a small detail but that timing is a very big part of consistent refereeing, as is when you chose to be stern with problems at the scrum or breakdown.

Of the two big games this weekend, I would say Allan Rolland was the better referee.

I personally think it is time Bruce Lawrence stepped up to the plate, and officiate in this final, he is unbiased, let's the game flow, interprets the laws well and has a pleasant way about him when talking to the players.

Other referees can only be inspired by his performances.

let it go Biltong.

Oh i agree with you Maest, his performances have been very poor since the RWC, possibly the poorest ref out there right now. His timing and general interperation has declined terribly. I do hope that he finds his form again as he was a very good referee leading up to the RWC.

I am just sayin that it is hard for refs as they will be critisised no matter what they do.

biltongbek wrote:I personally think it is time Bruce Lawrence stepped up to the plate, and officiate in this final, he is unbiased, let's the game flow, interprets the laws well and has a pleasant way about him when talking to the players.

Other referees can only be inspired by his performances.

Leinster have a few Afrikaans in their contingent.. Bruce may sway the game towards the O's...

To be honest would rather see a great fair game rather than an impeded one.

LordDowlais wrote:let it go Biltong.

I have, that's why I can be so complimentary about the guy, he is my dearest, dearest friend.

maestegmafia wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I personally think it is time Bruce Lawrence stepped up to the plate, and officiate in this final, he is unbiased, let's the game flow, interprets the laws well and has a pleasant way about him when talking to the players.

Other referees can only be inspired by his performances.

Leinster have a few Afrikaans in their contingent.. Bruce may sway the game towards the O's...

To be honest would rather see a great fair game rather than an impeded one.

That's fine, he can make it up to Leinster when they play Ulster (who has more Afrikaners) in the HC final.

I know, I will ref it, the game will be flowing, and with 5mins left it will be 100 all and everybody will be cheering me, then I wake up with my misses shouting at me for constantly repeating in my sleep dont touch it, hands off, and realease him.