This Weekend's Officials

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Scotland v Wales (Murrayfield, 14.30)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) and Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)

Ireland v France (Aviva Stadium, 17.00)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes and Greg Garner (both England)


SUNDAY, MARCH 10

England v Italy (Twickenham, 15.00)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales) and Mathieu Raynal (France)

Going to get my posts in early:

England win: I've always liked Clancy, quality ref.

England lose: That Clancy is a complete nobber.

Thank you.

Come back Sunday Evening and delete as appropriate. No-one will ever know

Brilliant plan!

Effervescing Elephant wrote:Going to get my posts in early:

England win: I've always liked Clancy, quality ref.

England lose: That Clancy is a complete nobber.

Thank you.

Plan ruined

Top refs for the six nations...????

LondonTiger wrote:SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Scotland v Wales (Murrayfield, 14.30)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) and Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)

Ireland v France (Aviva Stadium, 17.00)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes and Greg Garner (both England)


SUNDAY, MARCH 10

England v Italy (Twickenham, 15.00)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales) and Mathieu Raynal (France)

Why are there more Saffers and Kiwis (well Walsh is a kiwi really) than from any of the 6 Nations?

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Scotland v Wales (Murrayfield, 14.30)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) and Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)

Ireland v France (Aviva Stadium, 17.00)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes and Greg Garner (both England)


SUNDAY, MARCH 10

England v Italy (Twickenham, 15.00)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales) and Mathieu Raynal (France)

Why are there more Saffers and Kiwis (well Walsh is a kiwi really) than from any of the 6 Nations?

thats just this weekend. They usually do a mix of NH and SH so that presumably refereeing standards north and south are consistent.

Oh god we've got Steve Walsh.....

Steve Walsh has in my mind emerged as a fairly good ref. Seems quite level headed. He has some history though. Here are some of his antics:

- 2003 Rugby World Cup he was suspended for three days for inappropriate behaviour towards the England rugby team, after an altercation with England fitness coach Dave Reddin.

- He was suspended for four months in 2005 during the Lions tour of New Zealand for verbally abusing Irish winger Shane Horgan, after a disputed decision.

- On Wednesday 18 March 2009, it was announced that Walsh would lose his job after a third strike on his record - this time turning up drunk to a refereeing conference in Sydney. This is my favorite one. Shows balls. Sadly though it meant Wayne Barnes had top ref Ireland v Wales grand slam decider '09.

Since he has become an Aussie he seems much more relaxed and he has rediscovered his joie de vivre.

GunsGerms wrote:Steve Walsh has in my mind emerged as a fairly good ref. Seems quite level headed. He has some history though. Here are some of his antics:

- 2003 Rugby World Cup he was suspended for three days for inappropriate behaviour towards the England rugby team, after an altercation with England fitness coach Dave Reddin.

- He was suspended for four months in 2005 during the Lions tour of New Zealand for verbally abusing Irish winger Shane Horgan, after a disputed decision.

- On Wednesday 18 March 2009, it was announced that Walsh would lose his job after a third strike on his record - this time turning up drunk to a refereeing conference in Sydney. This is my favorite one. Shows balls. Sadly though it meant Wayne Barnes had top ref Ireland v Wales grand slam decider '09.

Since he has become an Aussie he seems much more relaxed and he has rediscovered his joie de vivre.

You forgot
-last weekend: shoved Conrad Smith out of the way as he rushed to advance a penalty against the Hurricanes (note, he got roasted for it in the NZ media, but it was more a case of him not looking where he was going until the last second and pushing Smith off to avoid a collision)

Joubert and Walsh are good, as was Jaco Peyper in the Scotland game.

With Clownshoes, I'll have to be careful not to overstate matters here. He is one of the worst referees on this planet and a never-ending dribble of incompetence. The last game of his I saw, he was so Wrong so often, I had to get up and open a window to let some of the Wrong out.

I miss David Bishop, Jim Fleming and Clive Norling - best refs ever.

Thank God we're playing France! I couldn't handle another game where Poite turns up to handle a game involving Irish players.

I'll take Steve.

Agreed, Poite does seem to make it up as he goes.

Most of the best Welsh referees of the last twenty-odd years have been in the very top tier, I'd say, George. Norling, Bevan, Peard, Owens - all with a proper idea of how to let things flow if at all possible. Your Jim Fleming was another of the good 'uns. The Irish used to have some cracking refs as well - God knows how things have descended to the point where Rolland and Clancy are two of our best.

Walsh would eat himself if he were made of chocolate - vanity has always been his big problem. Joubert looked outstanding a season or so ago - hasn't been at his best lately. On the whole, though, the Saffas and the Welsh seem to turn out the least dispiriting officials.

I've seen Walsh's trailer...it's going to be one of his best movies. Action scenes look amazing

Joubert :/ - at least we are not France, but he doesn't seem to like Wales much either.

Would have rather have Walsh, but not Clancy

There are 2 touch judges I would rather were refereeing.

Starring Steve Walsh, directed by Steve Walsh, produced by Steve Walsh, with Steve Walsh as the "Best Boy", I assume, SecretFly?

captain carrantuohil wrote:Starring Steve Walsh, directed by Steve Walsh, produced by Steve Walsh, with Steve Walsh as the "Best Boy", I assume, SecretFly?

Well, mostly, captain; but his hair is stunt coordinator. Walsh always trusts his hair for the stunt work.

SecretFly wrote:

captain carrantuohil wrote:Starring Steve Walsh, directed by Steve Walsh, produced by Steve Walsh, with Steve Walsh as the "Best Boy", I assume, SecretFly?

Walsh always trusts his hair for the stunt work.

I think that's because his hair has a separate agent and is on Equity rates.

I actually thought that Waslsh has been one of the best refs in SR so far this season, would be happy for him to ref England...

I think Walsh has been very good recently, despite public opinion of him in some places. Joubert on the other hand ruined the world cup final for me, think he's very overrated.

Joubert loves himself too much and won't let the game flow

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Effervescing Elephant wrote:Going to get my posts in early:

England win: I've always liked Clancy, quality ref.

England lose: That Clancy is a complete nobber.

Thank you.

Plan ruined

Would've gotten away with it too if weren't for that pesky PSW!!!

yappysnap wrote:I actually thought that Waslsh has been one of the best refs in SR so far this season, would be happy for him to ref England...

He is reffing us at MS.

I'd like to see Glen Jackson be in the middle for more international matches, I've been really impressed with the Super Rugby games and couple of internationals I've seen him in charge of.

Walsh isn't all that bad these days, now he seems older wiser and less likely to tell the players to F**K off.

Clancy is a Holly Wilaboobie of a Holly Wilaboobie, but in his defence he is rather consistent in his tittyness!!

Joubert on the other hand scares the bejeezus out of me, he tends to favour a team from the 3rd minute and does his utmost to aid them (he should never be allowed to ref a NZ game again in his life)

I'm willing to bet I can call the winner of the Scot - Wales game on minute 3!!!

I'd have much rather had Walsh, Owens, Barnes or Clan... no I can't say Clancy, but the others definately!

Joubert is one of the worst in the world. He should never ref a game involving NZ or Australia ever again.

Morgannwg wrote:Joubert is one of the worst in the world. He should never ref a game involving NZ or Australia ever again.

Or France

May as well add Wales to the list then if we're couting the guys on the receiving end.

I had the completely unexpected and enormous privilege of being reffed by Glen Jackson at uni. He was by far and a way the best referee I've ever had - not that our game would've challenged him much. I felt bad for always slagging him off whilst at Saracens!

Joubert can be a bit of a homer at times - England certainly did better out of him than France did in the last round, and his performance in the World Cup final speaks for itself. It's a shame because he can be an excellent referee.

I'm happy that we have Steve Walsh for Wales - England, but I reserve the right to change my opinion!