Mack Hansen was absolutely correct to say how he was feeling. As a Connacht supporter, we have felt this for a long time. He only said what we have been thinking and feeling. The fact that that particular incident wasn't even looked at, was so frustrating! He didn't verbally abuse the referee in question. He spoke passionately and as a player, he plays that way too. He has an exemplary record. The punishment was too harsh and unfair. Mack Hansen is so inspiring to young players in Galway and Ireland. Despite the great result against Lyon last Saturday, he was missed at the Dexcom Stadium. He is loved by everyone Galway and in Ireland and we are very lucky to have him playing his rugby here. I hope this experience doesn't change him. He is great for the game and he will get a huge welcome when he gets back. 💚🏉🦅
If Connaught Fan and Players feel that way then how do you think all SA teams coaches players and fans feel. I mean just for the bulls 2 red cards over turned at dissipline hearing because of bad calls. There is no SA refs in URC, EPCR or Championship cup. Only time you see them is with local derbys played urc. Trust me if SA teams coaches and players have to start speaking out like Hansen then there will be a longer ban then what he got, 6 weeks reduce to 3. Rassie was band for a yr because of the video and still being punished for that. Hansen was correct in saying how he felt in that moment and all rugby supports support that. The way he went about it and the delivery could have been different
@PB22559 did not say he is not loved. I said we as rugby supports agree in what Hansen said in the moment and how he felt. Trust me all SA teams feel exactly the same. After the Rassie video all coaches and players just keep quiet because Rassie is still the black sheep in the eyes of world rugby. With Baughmond gone hopefully Rassie will be left alone
From a Leinster fan, Mack was bang on, there was no excuse that the Barretts shoulder to Aki's head and even though it was relayed the fans from both sides expected Barrett to get a red, even the commentator's, no excuse that the ref and the TMO let this go. Then to make matters worse, Barrett saves Leinsters arse, plays a blinder and gets man of the match. No wonder Mack was fuming. The level of refereeing in the URC is dreadful, compare that to La Rochelle v Leinster last weekend in the Champions cup and the Ref was without doubt excellent, on top of everything, best refereeing by a country mile that I have seen this season. So fair play to Mack for calling it out and knowingly at the time, knew he was going to cop a punishment, but did it anyway.
Ex ref here (very amateur). Imo, I'm ok with Hansen's ban but to honest, comments after the game don't really bother me. That's the time for analysis. What irritates the s*** out of me is all the rubbish refs have to put up with DURING the game. Yelling, questioning, some players running up to and standing over refs, and I include captains. It's discouraging good ppl from giving reffing a go. Look up what the AFL did to back refs up. Any dissent and the ref MUST penalise the player and are not permitted any discretion. Personally, I think that should be strongly considered for rugby, and then allow coaches and players SOME ability for polite criticism after everyone's shaken hands
In fairness, it's not just the refs. There are two touch judges who act as right hand men to refs and then you have the TMO team looking for infringements the other 3 officials don't pick up on. This wasn't the case back in the day so in theory the refs have more support than ever. Sometimes there are obvious foul play incidents that none of the officials pick up on. This isn't acceptable. You see it, the whole crowd sees it but none of the officials see it?? Also, a lot of the time the TMO tells the ref to look at something that doesn't even warrant a penalty, which makes no sense whatsoever. The TMOs should come under more scrutiny if you ask me. They have the ability to watch incidents on replay, from different angles before they interact with the ref.
@PB22559 Fwiw, I believe having a reffing team undermines the authority and to an extent the confidence of a ref and impacts their decision making. I might be a dinosaur but reckon we should just go back to ref is god; touch judges (not asst refs) aid in obvious stuff, so not too dissimilar to what they do now, but just remove the committee meetings; TMO can only stop a game if a player's been choke slammed or stabbed. Jk, but really, off the ball tackles, a tackle that slipped up, we have to accept rugby incidents happen and use the citing process for anything major that gets missed. So the ref can stop a game, ask the TMO for a replay and the refs make the decision. And do it like football. Crowds need to grow up and accept the games imperfect and refs are human
I totally agree with you, the on pitch intimidation is an art in itself, and not a good one imo. That should be stamped out. Comments like Mack made in post match interviews and press conferences stand or fall on the evidence there is to back it up, sometimes it can be just whinging but in this case I think he has a reason to be annoyed. Refs are human and will make mistakes but without any scrutiny of bad decisions refs won't get better. I think the ban is harsh, it's harsh on Connacht, not so much on Ireland.
@@mattpotter8725 cheers. I personally think Hansen insinuated the refs were cheats rather than just whinge that they missed something. That's why I'm for the ban. Imagine if a cocky ref sparked up and accused Hansen (jokingly) of throwing the game. They'll NEVER do that cos they'd never referee again. Every ref I know loves the game and wants the game to thrive
@ I think you're confusing deliberate bias and subconscious bias. Hansen didn't mention the word deliberate at any stage, he seemed to be implying a subconscious bias which is a different accusation.
I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed more with comments on this usually-great pod. The idea that we want rugby to copy football with constantly whinging managers and players is just mind blowing. No, no, no, no.
It’s this kind of attitude that leads to the huge decline of interest in rugby and the RFU haemorrhaging money. It’s how you get engagement. It’s all well and good thinking you’re above football but which sport is infinitely better funded and more widely supported?
While the points raised are fair, a ban was always coming for it. It should've galvanised Connacht but they went full strength vs a young Ulster team the following week and got beaten. They're their own worst enemy more than the refs.
Mac was wrong. Crossed the line when he suggested bias. The stats don’t even back up his claim. Of the four provinces Connacht are the least penalised. Leinster and Ulster are the highest penalised. It’s also not about the ref having thick skin. He most likely does. The problem as we have seen before is their families are collateral damage, so a zero tolerance policy is the only way. It’s also a unique selling point of rugby besides its ethos.
He didn't attack the ref personally so I disagree. Also which province it's penalised the most is irrelevant because Connacht might just not be committing as many offences. It's how many of the penalties are incorrectly awarded that would be the stat to back up your claim, but that's probably subjective as well. I don't see it a problem saying what Mack said. If he'd have gone over the top and singled out this ref in particular, said he should never referee ever again I agree he should be punished, that would be out of line and uncalled for (and before you comment that the ref in question has retired, unless he retired because of this comment then that's irrelevant as well). What you're basically saying is that there should be no scrutiny of referees by players, who sometimes will be wrong, and that we should all pretend everything is hunky dory?
Law 6.5a The referee is the sole judge of fact and of law during a match. The referee must apply the laws of the game fairly in every match. Or, as I like to put it to my team mates when they cop the arse, the referee is always right. Even when they're wrong. Got an issue with a decision? After the game, when you've calmed down, go and have a civil conversation with the ref and get an understanding of why they did/didn't give a decision. But calling officials out in the media (professionals) or all over social media (pros and amateurs) is the single biggest no-no, in my opinion, and should be punished as such.
@@yanikvanderveen8678 Clearly you have never played rugby at a decent level. Players respecting the referee in rugby is part of the game , in fact it’s law 9 in the rule book Games have always turned on good or bad decisions by refs, they may be fallible and make mistakes but they are integral to the game and their relationship , respect and authority over the players is vital or their is no rugby . They have a difficult job and have to understand and make decisions throughout the match according to the different facets of what is a technical game in real-time and from where he is standing. The game has always relied on an accepted relationship between the players and the referee. The referee is trusted to make these decisions and interpretations of the law rightfully or wrongly . This has always been the case You cannot as some fans seemingly want try and ref a game with several refs on the pitch with continuous stoppages and replaying every passage of play to ensure every play is correct, as a game would last 5 hours as well as being unwatchable for the fans and a waste of time for the players . Yes refs can have terrible games and can make bad decisions but that has always been the case in the game. . Certainly we want and expect adjudication of the highest standard, but that isn’t always going to happen. Rugby doesn’t work like that, They perform an unenviable task now that they are scrutinised at every point and decision usually by fans who have no idea what the laws are and are just angry their player got penalised. Whilst refs have never been under as much scrutiny as they are now and despite being regularly assessed by the referee panels on their performance they are also now judged by the court of public opinion and as we have seen been abused and their families threatened by some who think that being a fan entitles them to do it . Refs should be criticised for their performance and bad decisions but as fans who purportedly love rugby and espouse the ethos of the game doesn’t however give you license to accuse referees of bias or cheating without evidence or consequence. You have to either accept that in a rugby match that the refs are not perfect and that the odd decision may be incorrect like rugby has been reffed up until now or you have to find a replacement for referees, you will have to rip up the rule book, change the laws and find a way that ensures every call is correct in a way that it will allow the game to flow and that it remains a game people want to play, that is workable for refs and remains a spectacle for fans .
Didn’t Pat Lam get fined for showing the truth to journalists on a laptop after a Cardiff/Connaught game lost because a brutal decision by a linesman from the far side of the pitch. Unless he was Superman with X-ray vision he couldn’t have seen what happened. Folks look it up. Games was in Cardiff linesman is Welsh….
Good pod covering the issues. I have no problem criticising referees but when you accuse them of deliberate bias that is a problem. Also referees do not get a chance to explain decisions. Also statistics would show that overall there were more penalties for Connact and everyone can pick on a single decision to try and prove a point So I can understand Hansen frustration but he was wrong to act the way he did
The rules are simple aren't they? Got an issue with the referees decisions, talk to your captain so that he can talk to the referee. Can't do jack after the game, might aswell just swallow the loss and move on like a professional or let the coach deal with it since punishing the coach has 0 effect.
I saw the match in question. Even the Leinster fans thought Barrett was going to get red carded for his head clash on Bundee. Josh Iowane had to leave the pitch after he got his head injury. He wasn't able to play fo Connacht for weeks after. Also, Mack got tackled after he kicked the ball, which prevented him from chasing it, but he didn't mention that in his interview. He was right in most of what he said. Rugby "values"? Nonsense!
We need to be careful that values and principles of rugby aren’t diluted. To quote Nigel, “it’s not soccer”. Players should have channels via their clubs’ staff to raise concerns. The governing bodies should also then take it seriously and referees and officials should be held to account and improved. What Mack said may have been correct but it’s how it’s been said that I think doesn’t align “with rugby values”.
Team management has the opportunity to submit a report about the referee after a match. Like a business it is not for the office worker calling out the CEO. That is why they have a manager, who can escalate the matter.
Would it be a good idea to have the refs and TMOs and lineman also have a press conference after the game? It might give them a chance to humanise their position as well as an opportunity to critique or back their calls. It would also be funny if a no-nonces ref started quoting laws to the press's faces.
In my opinion this needs to be addressed internally in their reviews with the URC and World Rugby refereeing officials through official process and channels. Sharing it with the public means that the crankpots who live on the edge and think that conspiracies are real will troll, threaten and abuse refs with threats thinking that their theories have support while the rest of us can do nothing about it. It just creates more issues as far as I am concerned.
Would a Welsh, Italian or Scottish teams of officials be more inclined to favour Leinster? Irish referees in the interpros is a hangover from the amateur days. Bring in international referees. McHale Park is sold out for the visit of Munster. I'm sure the extra 15,000 tickets would cover the air fares!
It’ll be Easterby to ascertain his inclusion in an Ireland team for this 6 and Can’t see easterby taking any view on it. If he’s fit to play and there’s sto for him in their playing plans then he will play.
People saying referees don't get punished, but just look at the amount of abuse they get online. No one in sport gets more grief than referees. I genuinely don't think official punishments from world rugby on referees would make any difference. Punishment doesn't change sub conscious bias.
Everyone gets abuse/insults whatever it is ie player coach, other supporters in EVERY sport. The issue is they're all interpreting the laws different and it has a massive effect on the game.
I agree with you, however I do think refs that get big decisions wrong should have some sort of consequences and maybe they shouldn't get big games to officiate, and it be made aware to them, even if it's not open to the public, the reasons why they are being removed from big games. That said refs shouldn't be getting abused on the pitch, but I don't think this is the case in the instance, that's a different issue completely and anyone caught doing that sound face the full force of disciplinary rules. I think Mack should have the right to say what he's said, it's his opinion and what he said does happen and must be infuriating when you face it week in, week out.
Great episode Gents. Glad you mentioned the Rassie debacle too. I think he was just the first of many that called out bad decisions. It is quite simple really, if world rugby does not eant players and coaches to criticise bad refereeing then fix the bad refereeing. How? Im not sure, maybe train the referees better and try get some sort of consistency. I certainly expect my coach and captain to speak up when a referee is making bad calls against my team it is part of their job. It HAS to be done respectfully though which I think Hanson did by the way. Keep up the great content 👍
Absolutlely. Every time I hear the phrase: '... the referee's interpretation of the law...' I think, 'Well, how does that work?' The rules are clear. The ref should act upon them.
On field the refs are the arbiter of the law, end of. Players shouting and playacting to the ref, easy fix, go and have a sit down for 10. Coaches will very quickly stop that shit. We have lost so many of our values in the game but the ref should be sacra-mount. Its not the players job in a post match interview, its the coach and there's a process.
Respect for referees is what sets us apart from football, you will never see a player on the pitch have a go at a ref like the ladies that play soccer do, saying that, post match you should be free to comment on your feelings about the game and if you are wrong about it you will be called out for it…. If you are right like Rassie was with the Lions tour, the refs will take note, Mac does not deserve a ban it is an embarrassment for the sport
How would the players feel if the referees did press conferences after the game and complain about players? ‘Red 9 wouldn’t shut up all game’ ‘Blue 1 couldn’t scrumage to save his life’ ‘Yellow 12 has dildo hands’ There is a process in place to raise concerns about the refs. A press conference isn’t it. As much as I get macs frustrations he’s hardly objective in a situation like this.
Not really. As you guys have said before sometimes it goes for you sometimes it does not. If you do allow it for me you are going to lose respect for the officials just like soccer.
Hansen didn’t just say the ref made a mistake. He pretty much explicitly said the ref was biased. That’s much worse. We can argue about referees making mistakes. But a lot of people seem fine with a player calling a referee a cheat. We saw what happened when Erasmus did that in 2021 and 2022.
Can you imagine a world where every player coming off the field has something to say about how the referee manages the games? No one will want to do the job.
I agree with Jim that the ref's have a tough job, but the TMO's don't - they sit in a comfy office with a bank of TV replays to look at and STILL get loads wrong, missed high shots, bucket loads of forward passes that lead to tries, offside, you name it. The Gloucester Sale game had four tries allowed from blatant forward passes giving both team bonus points which may or may not mean a difference at the end of the season. There has to be a process to help them get better, and that means criticism from those most closely impacted.
Game officials are human and make mistakes. The time to remedy this is not in the media glare by accusing them of bias and bullsh1t. Imagine if Hansen had a run of poor games and his coach tore him a new one in the post-game media interviews.
The point you boys were making about getting abuse and how to deal with it was a very well-made point. Too many people will judge any criticism to be abuse which is ridiculous. Anyone in the public eye or comment in in public on a public forum can be criticised or disagreed withbut abuse is just taking it too far and I don’t think Mr Goode is that fat he could hide behind me.
Imagine one person being banned for a year for doing something and the world ridiculing him. Then, another person does the same thing, gets a six-match ban, and the world supports him.
Such a shame that Mack had to be pragmatic, eat humble pie and pretend to be sorry. He meant it, he felt it and by putting him back in his box and not allowing discussion or debate you know what you get? Abuse. Stifling the discussion and debate just gets people riled up. Absolutely we need to protect referees from abuse in an extremely difficult sport to ref, but just telling players to sit down shut up and pay up. And now the refereeing of Connaught will be under the microscope and consistency continues to slide (Razzie's year ban was worth at least a point a game in the last WRC...). I know Mack Hansen had to back down for his career, club, country and bank balance. Shame he didn't double down and simply ask "was anything I said actually wrong?"
Mack is a huge breath of fresh air in rugby because he is 200% himself. He was frustrated yes but he has reason to be. Connacht have gotten some very very dubious decisions against them over the years , in fact some refs were sidelined due to their attitudes. Refs are not perfect but they expect players to be so come on cop the F on. Our game against Lyon was one of the best reffed games I've personally seen in ages. Why can't that be the norm then maybe players will behave !!
Connacht fan, was at the game. The Barrett in incident was a poor decision, but Busby made a great decision in yellow carding Jimmy O Brien. 16th man the ref was not. Connacht are delusional if they think that's why they lost. Their basics were terrible. Had more than enough chances to win. Good teams overcome the odd bad referee decision.
Agree with Hansen on that refereeing. However, the idea that Leinster always get the rub of the green is a load of nonsense. Is that why Porter gets penalised all the time for whatever the ref wants to make up on the spot? Half the time nobody knows they they penalties are for. Same when he plays for Ireland.
No players should not call out referees. If a team feels the referee made the wrong decisions the head coach can make official complaints. Let's leave the public shit talking of referees out of rugby. Well deserved ban
It matters not that Mack Hansen was correct or not. No sport allows professional players, coaches, or staff to criticise referees in public without consequences. Pundits are paid to comment on the whole game, the decisions included - no problem. There should be a referees body that could comment/defend/critique refs. Soccer has one but does it function effectively?
Thought mike hanson was spot on. Not irish but welsh but support him 100%. He said it just not about leinster but against other teams. Well said mike.👍🫡
JIM - When are you finally going to use your platform and speak out at the right time, publicly and clearly against partisan refereeing against non-traditional powerhouse teams, in particular. Scotland? Doesn't matter how good the team is or whether Dan Biggar thinks we are dark horses, if the man in the middle or TMO turns the game. The list is endless and the last one was the Autumn international against SA. This really needs a press blast BEFORE this six nations, to keep the officiating honest and balanced. Scotland would have won last year, would have had a WC semi against Argentina. Think what that success and those sliding doors moments could have done for the game in Scotland. Mack Hansen's comments were bang on and echo the frustration of every Scotland rugby fan. DO IT, PLS.
Why not? If world rugby and especially the IRFU won't work with teams to improve reffing then it needs to be called out. There have been a number of players who refs seem reluctant to card, Barrett being the latest. As a Munster man I usually say nothing about the ref but the official in that Lein-Conn game was farcical. We keep hearing that world rugby is trying to protect players yet Barrett trying to behead Aki is given a pass?
There is a challenge with officiating in the URC. And there are often games where the officiating seems blatantly biased. Not all refs, but always a certain few. Players are growing frustrated.I don't see this when watching English Premiership rugby or Top 14.
Leinster are a part of the rugby establishment. They are designed to be - as Ireland want to have a strong national team. However, it’s all out of balance in rugby as in society generally.
I think you're wrong on this one. He can say he didn't agree on a certain situation, but he can't insinuate that the refs are being deliberately biased or even corrupt Carragher, Neville etc are pundits. They didn’t do that as players.
He did abuse the ref when he said they played against 16 men! The implication being the ref was somehow “cheating”. Totally deserved the ban. Unacceptable given the abuse it incited
No, no and no. Referees must be left alone, they have an almost impossible job. It's very simple - no referee - no game. If you see referees as fair game, go and referee some games yourself. See first hand how incredibly difficult it is - especially under a constant cacophony of self appointed experts on the touchline. Referees are human, they will err and make mistakes - it's inevitable. If we start bad openly mouthing our officials - we'll end up in a similar moral degeneration that afflicts soccer. Standards fellas
All teams at one time or another have felt that the opposition is "favoured" by the ref but no team (to my knowkedge) has ever said the opposite. Generally refs do a great job and things tend to even out over the 80. The way that Mack handled his situation wasnt the right way though i do have sympathy for his emotions at the time on the pitch but not after the game at a press conference.
Jim said it’s a difficult job to be a ref. Playing professional rugby is a difficult job. Players get dropped if they play badly or make bad decisions. Refs should also be dropped if they ref badly or make bad decisions. But they don’t. World rugby protects the refs and gives them too many safety blankets. The refs don’t make tough calls any more. They refer everything to the TMO’s who were bad refs and have been demoted to TMO duty…. Marius Jonker…. Cough cough. The really tough calls are referred to anonymous people in some bunker who are protected by anonymity. I swear to god. World rugby had a meeting one day and brainstormed how to protect themselves and there bad decisions because of there stupidly over complicated rules and some smart arse suggested they should put the decision makers in a “bunker” so that nobody knows who they are and therefor nobody can be blamed.
Well yeah, Leinster. Look at how they played in La Rochelle last weekend. Every ruck a hand slowing down the ball, a player not rolling away, coming from the side, diving over the ball, La Rochelle just couldn't play fast rugby they never had a clean ruck. Then it's the last 5 minutes, it's a 2-point game and Leinster are deep in their territory defending, guess what? All of a sudden their defense is immaculate. Ofc that means La Rochelle can move the ball wide to a monstrous Jack Nowell, Leinster are under pressure, it's a lot more difficult for Leinster. But more importantly that means one thing : some teams are not refereed like others, Leinster are among these teams, and their players know they know they can infringe as much as they want -- they're just not crazy enough to do it if it can cost them the game.
Leinster supporter. Mack was correct. Time to speak the truth of what's going on. Refs never have to answer for their errors. Media course really.... In other words players will be trained to say what the irfu want you to say. Mack didn't mention Busby. Tell me if bundy had been knocked out or suffered a cranial injury what would the convo be.
Mack was OTT. If this is okay then rugby is in trouble. Big picture. We’re judging a *general* point about refereeing from a *one-off* situation. You don’t want this to be a blueprint for postmatch. Or do we? And please don’t bring Keano and ‘Carragher the Spitting Snake’ into this. Different universe. Andy does a voice. Then Jim does a voice. Then Tom does a voice. Then lots of voices.
Rassies video created the platform for the 2023 wc win. Refs are too scared now to make calls against the boks. It was never about being fair, it was about getting the calls to go "my" way.
What Spectators, Coaches and Players don't understand. Referees don't pitch up to a Game thinking I'm going to screw this team. They put in long hours of hard work and analysing matches and how to do things better every single weekend. The main thing is the Game isn't about the Referee is about the players and the Coaches and to give the spectators what they want to see and Referees still try their best to Referee the game fair. Yes, Referees have decided to be a Referee and yes they have to have a thick skin. But you can have the best game out there, make one mistake and you the worst Referee ever. But players can miss tackles, Mis-catch the ball make wrong decision have a off day, miss a winning penalty, thats fine. That player gets forgiven the next day. But everyone think a Referee is just a robot that can't make a mistake. They are also Human working long hours to give the best to the game of Rugby just as the players does because we all love the game.
Refs never get punished for poor officiating, coaches and players get punished for calling it out. If they felt world rugby would hold refs accountable they wouldn't need to comment on it. Refereeing has been terrible almost across the board for years. It needs to be said and something needs to be done.
Why should a ref get punished for making a mistake? Do you think players should be punished if they make a mistake? They make far more mistakes during a game than the ref does.
Why not? No one is above criticism and refs should be called out on shit performances! They need to man up, I mean, football refs get heaps of abuse and disrespect but they don't spit their dummy and quit!
Mack hansen was shouting at the lineo in the second half in the corner, i seen it. It should have been a yellow card. Also where was the rib of the green when i think was gus Mccarthy who took a bang to the hean on the toght wing in the second half, upright position no mitigation and nothing happened. 50/50's are just that 50/50 Leinster got lots against them too. But hey because you're shite and cant win blame the ref.
It's mostly the connection of shoulder to the head and numerous other things missed fouls. Refs have a big say on who wins a game. Missing forwards passes in rugby world cups, etc.
Mack Hansen was absolutely correct to say how he was feeling. As a Connacht supporter, we have felt this for a long time. He only said what we have been thinking and feeling. The fact that that particular incident wasn't even looked at, was so frustrating! He didn't verbally abuse the referee in question. He spoke passionately and as a player, he plays that way too. He has an exemplary record. The punishment was too harsh and unfair. Mack Hansen is so inspiring to young players in Galway and Ireland. Despite the great result against Lyon last Saturday, he was missed at the Dexcom Stadium. He is loved by everyone Galway and in Ireland and we are very lucky to have him playing his rugby here.
I hope this experience doesn't change him. He is great for the game and he will get a huge welcome when he gets back. 💚🏉🦅
If Connaught Fan and Players feel that way then how do you think all SA teams coaches players and fans feel. I mean just for the bulls 2 red cards over turned at dissipline hearing because of bad calls.
There is no SA refs in URC, EPCR or Championship cup. Only time you see them is with local derbys played urc. Trust me if SA teams coaches and players have to start speaking out like Hansen then there will be a longer ban then what he got, 6 weeks reduce to 3. Rassie was band for a yr because of the video and still being punished for that.
Hansen was correct in saying how he felt in that moment and all rugby supports support that. The way he went about it and the delivery could have been different
He is loved by everyone in galway and Ireland?? lol speak for yourself, not others.
@PB22559 did not say he is not loved. I said we as rugby supports agree in what Hansen said in the moment and how he felt. Trust me all SA teams feel exactly the same. After the Rassie video all coaches and players just keep quiet because Rassie is still the black sheep in the eyes of world rugby. With Baughmond gone hopefully Rassie will be left alone
From a Leinster fan, Mack was bang on, there was no excuse that the Barretts shoulder to Aki's head and even though it was relayed the fans from both sides expected Barrett to get a red, even the commentator's, no excuse that the ref and the TMO let this go. Then to make matters worse, Barrett saves Leinsters arse, plays a blinder and gets man of the match. No wonder Mack was fuming. The level of refereeing in the URC is dreadful, compare that to La Rochelle v Leinster last weekend in the Champions cup and the Ref was without doubt excellent, on top of everything, best refereeing by a country mile that I have seen this season. So fair play to Mack for calling it out and knowingly at the time, knew he was going to cop a punishment, but did it anyway.
Ex ref here (very amateur). Imo, I'm ok with Hansen's ban but to honest, comments after the game don't really bother me. That's the time for analysis. What irritates the s*** out of me is all the rubbish refs have to put up with DURING the game. Yelling, questioning, some players running up to and standing over refs, and I include captains. It's discouraging good ppl from giving reffing a go.
Look up what the AFL did to back refs up. Any dissent and the ref MUST penalise the player and are not permitted any discretion. Personally, I think that should be strongly considered for rugby, and then allow coaches and players SOME ability for polite criticism after everyone's shaken hands
In fairness, it's not just the refs. There are two touch judges who act as right hand men to refs and then you have the TMO team looking for infringements the other 3 officials don't pick up on. This wasn't the case back in the day so in theory the refs have more support than ever.
Sometimes there are obvious foul play incidents that none of the officials pick up on. This isn't acceptable. You see it, the whole crowd sees it but none of the officials see it?? Also, a lot of the time the TMO tells the ref to look at something that doesn't even warrant a penalty, which makes no sense whatsoever. The TMOs should come under more scrutiny if you ask me. They have the ability to watch incidents on replay, from different angles before they interact with the ref.
@PB22559 Fwiw, I believe having a reffing team undermines the authority and to an extent the confidence of a ref and impacts their decision making. I might be a dinosaur but reckon we should just go back to ref is god; touch judges (not asst refs) aid in obvious stuff, so not too dissimilar to what they do now, but just remove the committee meetings; TMO can only stop a game if a player's been choke slammed or stabbed. Jk, but really, off the ball tackles, a tackle that slipped up, we have to accept rugby incidents happen and use the citing process for anything major that gets missed. So the ref can stop a game, ask the TMO for a replay and the refs make the decision. And do it like football. Crowds need to grow up and accept the games imperfect and refs are human
I totally agree with you, the on pitch intimidation is an art in itself, and not a good one imo. That should be stamped out. Comments like Mack made in post match interviews and press conferences stand or fall on the evidence there is to back it up, sometimes it can be just whinging but in this case I think he has a reason to be annoyed. Refs are human and will make mistakes but without any scrutiny of bad decisions refs won't get better. I think the ban is harsh, it's harsh on Connacht, not so much on Ireland.
@@mattpotter8725 cheers. I personally think Hansen insinuated the refs were cheats rather than just whinge that they missed something. That's why I'm for the ban.
Imagine if a cocky ref sparked up and accused Hansen (jokingly) of throwing the game. They'll NEVER do that cos they'd never referee again. Every ref I know loves the game and wants the game to thrive
@ I think you're confusing deliberate bias and subconscious bias. Hansen didn't mention the word deliberate at any stage, he seemed to be implying a subconscious bias which is a different accusation.
I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed more with comments on this usually-great pod. The idea that we want rugby to copy football with constantly whinging managers and players is just mind blowing. No, no, no, no.
It’s this kind of attitude that leads to the huge decline of interest in rugby and the RFU haemorrhaging money. It’s how you get engagement.
It’s all well and good thinking you’re above football but which sport is infinitely better funded and more widely supported?
@@tomjenkins4619 American football? I don't see that criticising refs is the only way to get engagement.
I don't think that's even correct. Football players don't blow up like that.
@@iainhardie4117 They do any ref doing a KC game is criticised. KC are the Leinster of AF
While the points raised are fair, a ban was always coming for it. It should've galvanised Connacht but they went full strength vs a young Ulster team the following week and got beaten. They're their own worst enemy more than the refs.
Mac was wrong. Crossed the line when he suggested bias. The stats don’t even back up his claim. Of the four provinces Connacht are the least penalised. Leinster and Ulster are the highest penalised. It’s also not about the ref having thick skin. He most likely does. The problem as we have seen before is their families are collateral damage, so a zero tolerance policy is the only way. It’s also a unique selling point of rugby besides its ethos.
He didn't attack the ref personally so I disagree. Also which province it's penalised the most is irrelevant because Connacht might just not be committing as many offences. It's how many of the penalties are incorrectly awarded that would be the stat to back up your claim, but that's probably subjective as well. I don't see it a problem saying what Mack said. If he'd have gone over the top and singled out this ref in particular, said he should never referee ever again I agree he should be punished, that would be out of line and uncalled for (and before you comment that the ref in question has retired, unless he retired because of this comment then that's irrelevant as well). What you're basically saying is that there should be no scrutiny of referees by players, who sometimes will be wrong, and that we should all pretend everything is hunky dory?
Law 6.5a The referee is the sole judge of fact and of law during a match. The referee must apply the laws of the game fairly in every match.
Or, as I like to put it to my team mates when they cop the arse, the referee is always right. Even when they're wrong.
Got an issue with a decision? After the game, when you've calmed down, go and have a civil conversation with the ref and get an understanding of why they did/didn't give a decision. But calling officials out in the media (professionals) or all over social media (pros and amateurs) is the single biggest no-no, in my opinion, and should be punished as such.
Go get your booster shot dude
This is why it is so easy to have biased refs. This approach makes it so easy for refs to get away with awful performances and even cheating
@@GhettoGreg Spot on. You can imagine him shouting at anyone not wearing their mask in the park...
@@yanikvanderveen8678
Clearly you have never played rugby at a decent level.
Players respecting the referee in rugby is part of the game , in fact it’s law 9 in the rule book
Games have always turned on good or bad decisions by refs, they may be fallible and make mistakes but they are integral to the game and their relationship , respect and authority over the players is vital or their is no rugby .
They have a difficult job and have to understand and make decisions throughout the match according to the different facets of what is a technical game in real-time and from where he is standing. The game has always relied on an accepted relationship between the players and the referee. The referee is trusted to make these decisions and interpretations of the law rightfully or wrongly . This has always been the case You cannot as some fans seemingly want try and ref a game with several refs on the pitch with continuous stoppages and replaying every passage of play to ensure every play is correct, as a game would last 5 hours as well as being unwatchable for the fans and a waste of time for the players .
Yes refs can have terrible games and can make bad decisions but that has always been the case in the game. . Certainly we want and expect adjudication of the highest standard, but that isn’t always going to happen. Rugby doesn’t work like that, They perform an unenviable task now that they are scrutinised at every point and decision usually by fans who have no idea what the laws are and are just angry their player got penalised.
Whilst refs have never been under as much scrutiny as they are now and despite being regularly assessed by the referee panels on their performance they are also now judged by the court of public opinion and as we have seen been abused and their families threatened by some who think that being a fan entitles them to do it . Refs should be criticised for their performance and bad decisions but as fans who purportedly love rugby and espouse the ethos of the game doesn’t however give you license to accuse referees of bias or cheating without evidence or consequence.
You have to either accept that in a rugby match that the refs are not perfect and that the odd decision may be incorrect like rugby has been reffed up until now or you have to find a replacement for referees, you will have to rip up the rule book, change the laws and find a way that ensures every call is correct in a way that it will allow the game to flow and that it remains a game people want to play, that is workable for refs and remains a spectacle for fans .
Didn’t Pat Lam get fined for showing the truth to journalists on a laptop after a Cardiff/Connaught game lost because a brutal decision by a linesman from the far side of the pitch. Unless he was Superman with X-ray vision he couldn’t have seen what happened. Folks look it up. Games was in Cardiff linesman is Welsh….
Good pod covering the issues. I have no problem criticising referees but when you accuse them of deliberate bias that is a problem. Also referees do not get a chance to explain decisions. Also statistics would show that overall there were more penalties for Connact and everyone can pick on a single decision to try and prove a point
So I can understand Hansen frustration but he was wrong to act the way he did
Did Hansen accuse refs of deliberate bias though? I think he was implying it was subconscious bias, which isn't the same thing.
The rules are simple aren't they? Got an issue with the referees decisions, talk to your captain so that he can talk to the referee. Can't do jack after the game, might aswell just swallow the loss and move on like a professional or let the coach deal with it since punishing the coach has 0 effect.
I saw the match in question. Even the Leinster fans thought Barrett was going to get red carded for his head clash on Bundee. Josh Iowane had to leave the pitch after he got his head injury. He wasn't able to play fo Connacht for weeks after. Also, Mack got tackled after he kicked the ball, which prevented him from chasing it, but he didn't mention that in his interview.
He was right in most of what he said. Rugby "values"? Nonsense!
We need to be careful that values and principles of rugby aren’t diluted. To quote Nigel, “it’s not soccer”. Players should have channels via their clubs’ staff to raise concerns. The governing bodies should also then take it seriously and referees and officials should be held to account and improved. What Mack said may have been correct but it’s how it’s been said that I think doesn’t align “with rugby values”.
im pretty certain theres a line that mack says about connacht going through the proper channels in the past and nothing happening
Team management has the opportunity to submit a report about the referee after a match. Like a business it is not for the office worker calling out the CEO. That is why they have a manager, who can escalate the matter.
Would it be a good idea to have the refs and TMOs and lineman also have a press conference after the game? It might give them a chance to humanise their position as well as an opportunity to critique or back their calls. It would also be funny if a no-nonces ref started quoting laws to the press's faces.
Insiniuating a referee is biased is perhaps te most serious accusation. That should come with concrete evidence
In my opinion this needs to be addressed internally in their reviews with the URC and World Rugby refereeing officials through official process and channels.
Sharing it with the public means that the crankpots who live on the edge and think that conspiracies are real will troll, threaten and abuse refs with threats thinking that their theories have support while the rest of us can do nothing about it.
It just creates more issues as far as I am concerned.
Would a Welsh, Italian or Scottish teams of officials be more inclined to favour Leinster? Irish referees in the interpros is a hangover from the amateur days. Bring in international referees. McHale Park is sold out for the visit of Munster. I'm sure the extra 15,000 tickets would cover the air fares!
There's worse verbal abuse on a primary school yard then what Mack dished out in that interview.
Hey, this was a very good analysis of the situation. Good for you guys.
It’ll be Easterby to ascertain his inclusion in an Ireland team for this 6 and Can’t see easterby taking any view on it. If he’s fit to play and there’s sto for him in their playing plans then he will play.
People saying referees don't get punished, but just look at the amount of abuse they get online. No one in sport gets more grief than referees. I genuinely don't think official punishments from world rugby on referees would make any difference. Punishment doesn't change sub conscious bias.
Everyone gets abuse/insults whatever it is ie player coach, other supporters in EVERY sport.
The issue is they're all interpreting the laws different and it has a massive effect on the game.
Rightfully so I'm not a fan of getting into their personal life
But shit must be called out
Rugby will never grow if we stick to our bullshit values
Why are so many rugby fans so SOOOFFTTTT bloody hell its professional sport man grow up
I agree with you, however I do think refs that get big decisions wrong should have some sort of consequences and maybe they shouldn't get big games to officiate, and it be made aware to them, even if it's not open to the public, the reasons why they are being removed from big games. That said refs shouldn't be getting abused on the pitch, but I don't think this is the case in the instance, that's a different issue completely and anyone caught doing that sound face the full force of disciplinary rules. I think Mack should have the right to say what he's said, it's his opinion and what he said does happen and must be infuriating when you face it week in, week out.
They get abuse because there’s no accountability
Great episode Gents.
Glad you mentioned the Rassie debacle too. I think he was just the first of many that called out bad decisions. It is quite simple really, if world rugby does not eant players and coaches to criticise bad refereeing then fix the bad refereeing. How? Im not sure, maybe train the referees better and try get some sort of consistency.
I certainly expect my coach and captain to speak up when a referee is making bad calls against my team it is part of their job. It HAS to be done respectfully though which I think Hanson did by the way.
Keep up the great content 👍
I said these individuals are making serious calls and not held accountable? Now, 2:53 players and individuals are saying the same thing?
This all just highlights how much a referee can impact a game..... the laws are not supposed to be subjective..... but we all know they are
Absolutlely. Every time I hear the phrase: '... the referee's interpretation of the law...' I think, 'Well, how does that work?' The rules are clear. The ref should act upon them.
On field the refs are the arbiter of the law, end of. Players shouting and playacting to the ref, easy fix, go and have a sit down for 10. Coaches will very quickly stop that shit. We have lost so many of our values in the game but the ref should be sacra-mount. Its not the players job in a post match interview, its the coach and there's a process.
Respect for referees is what sets us apart from football, you will never see a player on the pitch have a go at a ref like the ladies that play soccer do, saying that, post match you should be free to comment on your feelings about the game and if you are wrong about it you will be called out for it…. If you are right like Rassie was with the Lions tour, the refs will take note, Mac does not deserve a ban it is an embarrassment for the sport
Rassie was wrong in that instance. I have the biggest respect for him, but he crossed the line.
i now sympathise with refs, given the presence of tmos and the insane rules/frequent rule changes
"The rub of the green" surely simply means "good fortune" and not "favourable refereeing decisions".
How would the players feel if the referees did press conferences after the game and complain about players?
‘Red 9 wouldn’t shut up all game’
‘Blue 1 couldn’t scrumage to save his life’
‘Yellow 12 has dildo hands’
There is a process in place to raise concerns about the refs. A press conference isn’t it.
As much as I get macs frustrations he’s hardly objective in a situation like this.
I think it’s a larger issue across rugby as a whole, that the quality of refereeing is woeful - someone needs to call it out.
It will change when winning team players and coaches starts calling it out instead of just when they lose. Then it will start having credibility.
Not really. As you guys have said before sometimes it goes for you sometimes it does not. If you do allow it for me you are going to lose respect for the officials just like soccer.
These referees are professionals. Of course they HAVE to be held to account. So yes! They HAVE to be called out.
I think a 1 game ban or a warning would have been more than enough, but the fact the rest of the team is also getting extra punishments is too far
Fair play Goodey …..a man who treats idiots the correct way , with disdain.
Hansen didn’t just say the ref made a mistake. He pretty much explicitly said the ref was biased. That’s much worse. We can argue about referees making mistakes. But a lot of people seem fine with a player calling a referee a cheat. We saw what happened when Erasmus did that in 2021 and 2022.
Not Hansen’s place to speak out. Poor example to youngsters.
Mack was dead right. Leinster and bigger teams get the calls at home far far too much. ESPECIALLY when Connacht could win one.
Can you imagine a world where every player coming off the field has something to say about how the referee manages the games? No one will want to do the job.
I agree with Jim that the ref's have a tough job, but the TMO's don't - they sit in a comfy office with a bank of TV replays to look at and STILL get loads wrong, missed high shots, bucket loads of forward passes that lead to tries, offside, you name it. The Gloucester Sale game had four tries allowed from blatant forward passes giving both team bonus points which may or may not mean a difference at the end of the season. There has to be a process to help them get better, and that means criticism from those most closely impacted.
Game officials are human and make mistakes. The time to remedy this is not in the media glare by accusing them of bias and bullsh1t.
Imagine if Hansen had a run of poor games and his coach tore him a new one in the post-game media interviews.
The point you boys were making about getting abuse and how to deal with it was a very well-made point. Too many people will judge any criticism to be abuse which is ridiculous. Anyone in the public eye or comment in in public on a public forum can be criticised or disagreed withbut abuse is just taking it too far and I don’t think Mr Goode is that fat he could hide behind me.
Imagine one person being banned for a year for doing something and the world ridiculing him. Then, another person does the same thing, gets a six-match ban, and the world supports him.
I wonder who complained out referees years ago on social media and everyone called him a cry baby 🤔
Surely if it's OK for Rassie to do what he did, it's OK for Mac to voice his frustration. He wasn't disrespectful.
Such a shame that Mack had to be pragmatic, eat humble pie and pretend to be sorry. He meant it, he felt it and by putting him back in his box and not allowing discussion or debate you know what you get? Abuse. Stifling the discussion and debate just gets people riled up. Absolutely we need to protect referees from abuse in an extremely difficult sport to ref, but just telling players to sit down shut up and pay up. And now the refereeing of Connaught will be under the microscope and consistency continues to slide (Razzie's year ban was worth at least a point a game in the last WRC...). I know Mack Hansen had to back down for his career, club, country and bank balance. Shame he didn't double down and simply ask "was anything I said actually wrong?"
Mack is a huge breath of fresh air in rugby because he is 200% himself. He was frustrated yes but he has reason to be. Connacht have gotten some very very dubious decisions against them over the years , in fact some refs were sidelined due to their attitudes. Refs are not perfect but they expect players to be so come on cop the F on. Our game against Lyon was one of the best reffed games I've personally seen in ages. Why can't that be the norm then maybe players will behave !!
Connacht fan, was at the game. The Barrett in incident was a poor decision, but Busby made a great decision in yellow carding Jimmy O Brien.
16th man the ref was not. Connacht are delusional if they think that's why they lost. Their basics were terrible. Had more than enough chances to win. Good teams overcome the odd bad referee decision.
Big Jim talking his special brand of gibberish about Scotland!
Agree with Hansen on that refereeing.
However, the idea that Leinster always get the rub of the green is a load of nonsense.
Is that why Porter gets penalised all the time for whatever the ref wants to make up on the spot? Half the time nobody knows they they penalties are for. Same when he plays for Ireland.
Mack didn't mention Leinster or Busby, rather a continuous feeling of being undermined. He's not wrong. Bigger teams get the rub of the green.
I Am with Mack all the way he’s got a point 😊
i think we also want i know the reasoning from the ref or refs team when these calls are 50/50
No players should not call out referees. If a team feels the referee made the wrong decisions the head coach can make official complaints. Let's leave the public shit talking of referees out of rugby. Well deserved ban
Rugbys Laws are far too open to interpretation.
I dont agree with the online abuse that refs get. That said, an organisation giving a ban for someone criticising that organisation kind of stinks.
"Rugby values, rugby values"
Its not a value if its protected with the threat of force.
It matters not that Mack Hansen was correct or not. No sport allows professional players, coaches, or staff to criticise referees in public without consequences. Pundits are paid to comment on the whole game, the decisions included - no problem. There should be a referees body that could comment/defend/critique refs. Soccer has one but does it function effectively?
Thought mike hanson was spot on. Not irish but welsh but support him 100%. He said it just not about leinster but against other teams. Well said mike.👍🫡
JIM - When are you finally going to use your platform and speak out at the right time, publicly and clearly against partisan refereeing against non-traditional powerhouse teams, in particular. Scotland? Doesn't matter how good the team is or whether Dan Biggar thinks we are dark horses, if the man in the middle or TMO turns the game. The list is endless and the last one was the Autumn international against SA. This really needs a press blast BEFORE this six nations, to keep the officiating honest and balanced. Scotland would have won last year, would have had a WC semi against Argentina. Think what that success and those sliding doors moments could have done for the game in Scotland. Mack Hansen's comments were bang on and echo the frustration of every Scotland rugby fan. DO IT, PLS.
Why not? If world rugby and especially the IRFU won't work with teams to improve reffing then it needs to be called out.
There have been a number of players who refs seem reluctant to card, Barrett being the latest.
As a Munster man I usually say nothing about the ref but the official in that Lein-Conn game was farcical. We keep hearing that world rugby is trying to protect players yet Barrett trying to behead Aki is given a pass?
There is a challenge with officiating in the URC. And there are often games where the officiating seems blatantly biased. Not all refs, but always a certain few. Players are growing frustrated.I don't see this when watching English Premiership rugby or Top 14.
Leinster are a part of the rugby establishment. They are designed to be - as Ireland want to have a strong national team. However, it’s all out of balance in rugby as in society generally.
I think you're wrong on this one. He can say he didn't agree on a certain situation, but he can't insinuate that the refs are being deliberately biased or even corrupt
Carragher, Neville etc are pundits. They didn’t do that as players.
Absolute rubbish ban on Hansen!!
He did abuse the ref when he said they played against 16 men! The implication being the ref was somehow “cheating”. Totally deserved the ban. Unacceptable given the abuse it incited
Stop being so soft
Hi didn’t say cheat, an accusation of unconscious bias is what I took from that statement
i am a connacht fan, i totally agree with Mack comments. if Bundee had hit Barrett the same way as Barrett hit him. it would have been looked at .
No, no and no. Referees must be left alone, they have an almost impossible job. It's very simple - no referee - no game. If you see referees as fair game, go and referee some games yourself. See first hand how incredibly difficult it is - especially under a constant cacophony of self appointed experts on the touchline. Referees are human, they will err and make mistakes - it's inevitable.
If we start bad openly mouthing our officials - we'll end up in a similar moral degeneration that afflicts soccer. Standards fellas
All teams at one time or another have felt that the opposition is "favoured" by the ref but no team (to my knowkedge) has ever said the opposite. Generally refs do a great job and things tend to even out over the 80. The way that Mack handled his situation wasnt the right way though i do have sympathy for his emotions at the time on the pitch but not after the game at a press conference.
we are always playing against 16 man teams
Hansen is knob . Love from SA ❤
Jim said it’s a difficult job to be a ref.
Playing professional rugby is a difficult job.
Players get dropped if they play badly or make bad decisions. Refs should also be dropped if they ref badly or make bad decisions.
But they don’t. World rugby protects the refs and gives them too many safety blankets.
The refs don’t make tough calls any more. They refer everything to the TMO’s who were bad refs and have been demoted to TMO duty…. Marius Jonker…. Cough cough.
The really tough calls are referred to anonymous people in some bunker who are protected by anonymity.
I swear to god. World rugby had a meeting one day and brainstormed how to protect themselves and there bad decisions because of there stupidly over complicated rules and some smart arse suggested they should put the decision makers in a “bunker” so that nobody knows who they are and therefor nobody can be blamed.
Well yeah, Leinster. Look at how they played in La Rochelle last weekend. Every ruck a hand slowing down the ball, a player not rolling away, coming from the side, diving over the ball, La Rochelle just couldn't play fast rugby they never had a clean ruck. Then it's the last 5 minutes, it's a 2-point game and Leinster are deep in their territory defending, guess what? All of a sudden their defense is immaculate. Ofc that means La Rochelle can move the ball wide to a monstrous Jack Nowell, Leinster are under pressure, it's a lot more difficult for Leinster. But more importantly that means one thing : some teams are not refereed like others, Leinster are among these teams, and their players know they know they can infringe as much as they want -- they're just not crazy enough to do it if it can cost them the game.
It’s been my dream to be a referee
He shouldn't have said it the way he said it but something had to be said.
Busby's always been horrible. Very arrogant, too. No sympathy. But I'm Saffa, we're not allowed to complain about officials.
Leinster supporter. Mack was correct. Time to speak the truth of what's going on. Refs never have to answer for their errors. Media course really.... In other words players will be trained to say what the irfu want you to say. Mack didn't mention Busby. Tell me if bundy had been knocked out or suffered a cranial injury what would the convo be.
Big Jim is in the middle?! Weird!😉
Mack was OTT. If this is okay then rugby is in trouble. Big picture. We’re judging a *general* point about refereeing from a *one-off* situation. You don’t want this to be a blueprint for postmatch. Or do we? And please don’t bring Keano and ‘Carragher the Spitting Snake’ into this. Different universe. Andy does a voice. Then Jim does a voice. Then Tom does a voice. Then lots of voices.
Rassies video created the platform for the 2023 wc win. Refs are too scared now to make calls against the boks. It was never about being fair, it was about getting the calls to go "my" way.
Just watch leinster game at the weekend
Yeah, how dare the ref call those blatantly missed kicks as having not gone over. Sheer bias in the dying minutes of the game 😂
What Spectators, Coaches and Players don't understand. Referees don't pitch up to a Game thinking I'm going to screw this team. They put in long hours of hard work and analysing matches and how to do things better every single weekend. The main thing is the Game isn't about the Referee is about the players and the Coaches and to give the spectators what they want to see and Referees still try their best to Referee the game fair. Yes, Referees have decided to be a Referee and yes they have to have a thick skin. But you can have the best game out there, make one mistake and you the worst Referee ever. But players can miss tackles, Mis-catch the ball make wrong decision have a off day, miss a winning penalty, thats fine. That player gets forgiven the next day. But everyone think a Referee is just a robot that can't make a mistake. They are also Human working long hours to give the best to the game of Rugby just as the players does because we all love the game.
Refs never get punished for poor officiating, coaches and players get punished for calling it out. If they felt world rugby would hold refs accountable they wouldn't need to comment on it. Refereeing has been terrible almost across the board for years. It needs to be said and something needs to be done.
Why should a ref get punished for making a mistake? Do you think players should be punished if they make a mistake? They make far more mistakes during a game than the ref does.
@johnnyshinnichi1785players do get punished if they make mistakes.
Refs do get punished if they make enough mistakes. They can be pulled from games or “demoted” to touch judge.
Why not? No one is above criticism and refs should be called out on shit performances! They need to man up, I mean, football refs get heaps of abuse and disrespect but they don't spit their dummy and quit!
Oh fuck content. Is Mack Hansen right? If he is, he is.
Yeah Jim, the Euro is still a currency, it's your currency that's shit mate.
Yeah the Euro is just as shit. Not sure what Jim's comment was about though considering the pound dropped quite a bit this week.
Unfortunately this will insight abuse towards referees. I dont mind it, but we live in a age of idiots
In the gym minding my businesses . Then andy good, fat cant" comment.... spat water everywhere with laughter 😅
Busby is soft.
Just a shame it was a second class Aussie that was involved….. should have copped a longer ban as no it’s not football…
Second class Aussie?
Mack hansen was shouting at the lineo in the second half in the corner, i seen it. It should have been a yellow card.
Also where was the rib of the green when i think was gus Mccarthy who took a bang to the hean on the toght wing in the second half, upright position no mitigation and nothing happened.
50/50's are just that 50/50 Leinster got lots against them too. But hey because you're shite and cant win blame the ref.
It's mostly the connection of shoulder to the head and numerous other things missed fouls. Refs have a big say on who wins a game. Missing forwards passes in rugby world cups, etc.