Makes sense that refs see so little. When they have tunnel vision to focus on aspects of play that are close in, they lose broader vision, and vice versa.

Having more than one referee on the field makes total sense, plus give the linesmen authority to check offsides, and give each team two or three appeals per game. Results will be much more accurate.

It’s so dumb that week-in week-out we have results decided largely by officiating errors. How doff can we be.

Wakey-wakey IRB. We’re waiting for you. You can’t leave it up to the referees panel to decide on these changes. Their egos are loving the over-authority that they have, even though they are getting by it.

You don’t have to keep trying to prove yourself the whole time. Everyoe has made their mind up about you long ago – you’re like a huge **** on the pathway… everyone just steps around you. Do yourself a favour & just man up a little.

Rumour has it that he is keeping all his cards up his sleeve until he applies for the SANZAR CEO post, which is being advertised this weekend

Not at all, I find it all amusing really. The way some people speak as if their words are final and true.

I think skopskiet does the same thing – anyone with an opinion different to his own is labelled as a know-all – he doesnt see how he could be wrong.

Such conviction in his statements on why the ref was right in not awarding the penalty try.

Surely the sanzar panel has it wrong again?

Ref: ‘Oy there Phil – are those South Africans allowing you to get to the ball mate ?’

Phil: ‘No mate, they are trying to keep it all for themselves’

Ref: ‘Dont worry mate, just like we discussed at that Barby we had last weekend, when you allowed me to play with some of your sheep, I will just penalise them a bit, and stop them from trying to beat your team ok ?’

Phil: ‘Much appreciated mate. You can have whatever sheep Paulie Marks left over after our victory party last Saturday night’

Can the Aussies play ANY sport – ANYTHING without cheating ?

I once heard that a on-field referee sees about 20% of the game. So – its logical that they will make mistakes.

Maybe, Paul Marks didn’t ‘see’ the ‘attempted intercept’ from Beale, or maybe Steve Walsh didn’t ‘see’ the 3 Bulls players scrapping for the ball off their feet at the ruck, nor did he ‘see’ the knock on just before that ruck formed. Habana scored a try after that ruck which robbed a certain team of the Super 14 trophy. Funny though that Walsh didn’t ‘see’ because video footage shows him standing right next to the ruck – about a meter or two away looking straight at what was happening.

I wonder how many swigs of the good ol elixir he took at half time ?

And it’s all very well Andre Watson et al sitting on their high horses, with even more power now as referees overseers, with their egos bloating even more, but each one of them had awful games themselves, in the case of Andre, many awful ones.

This all goes to the same point: the game of rugby requires the spreading of officiating power beyond just one person. Too many results are inaccurate, probably as much as 30% of results.

We are expecting too much of referees. Sanctioning is stupid.

Watch him give the Sharks a penalty try from the kickoff….just in case he screws up later in the game.

Its good referees realise there is recourse for their actions.

In cases like Beale’s ‘attempted intercept’ it would have been interesting to get another referees opinion.

Apparently Andre Watson, Tappe Henning and Lyndon Bray all agreed that there should have been a penalty try but I still feel that Paul Marks (although he had a terrible game in general) didn’t really do the ‘wrong’ thing in the penalty try call. In cases like that, the on field referee needs to make a call, and in that specific case you can argue what was right and what was wrong for hours. Tough one for Marks.

But – whats done is done. Its over now, and focus should shift on to the next game.

Just one request: Can the Sharks stop getting the ‘rub of the green’ please ? A little bit of luck in the opposing direction would be nice. We are probably already out of the playoffs, so a bit of good fortune would be great.

A Sharks win over the Brumbies will certainly help other SA teams as well, so, here’s to a Sharks win !

GO SHARKS !

I’m not saying Paul Marks was right not to award a penalty try. I’m saying referees are expected to do more than one human being can do on a rugby field, with its multidimensionality and multiple laws.

Match officiating power must be spread to include other minds, with greater checks and balances.

Teams must be allowed two or three appeals per game. TV refereeing technology and practice have advanced sufficiently to allow this. Most of the errors in this game, and many others, would have been reversed. An overhead camera would assist the process further, for offsides and forward passes. Then the shaming on referees would not be necessary.

Imagine how Paul Marks feels. Imagine now that you were him.

Cape Town.

Spent about 6 weeks in Aus last year for work. Have quite a number of family members down there (mainly Sydney and Fremantle) and visit the country quite often. Great place.

I am off now – blogged and prepared a submission at the same time.

See u later.