URC Season 2024/2025 Official Thread

[Uncle fester]

Can anyone explain why Leinster are allowed to join rucks from the side, to disrupt in defence and to seal off/ protect the ball in attack. It’s bizarre, happening right in front of the ref and he doesn’t seem bothered by it

They are very, very good at exploiting the fact that ref's really don't want to blow the whistle for every offense !

If Refs blew up every penalty, or free, at ever set piece, then games would last for hours, & we'd be back to three men & a dog watching games.

It's annoying that in theory the games Laws are the same at the top level that they are for everyone else, but that's not the reality.

Doesn't matter what way the game is reffed. We're getting hosed regardless.

[fishfoodie]

Predegast having a cracking game, first time I’ve seen him live up to the hype

Yes, I came on here to say he was looking the part

Leinster & Ireland have had to go thru a few different alternatives, but he was just that extra little bit special with the U20s, you could see it there, & now when you put him in a squad with some quality players, you know, if he gets a good run without injuries, he has the potential.

[fishfoodie]

Can anyone explain why Leinster are allowed to join rucks from the side, to disrupt in defence and to seal off/ protect the ball in attack. It’s bizarre, happening right in front of the ref and he doesn’t seem bothered by it

They are very, very good at exploiting the fact that ref's really don't want to blow the whistle for every offense !

If Refs blew up every penalty, or free, at ever set piece, then games would last for hours, & we'd be back to three men & a dog watching games.

It's annoying that in theory the games Laws are the same at the top level that they are for everyone else, but that's not the reality.

Doesn't matter what way the game is reffed. We're getting hosed regardless.

And that's why I don't like ref whinging; it's usually where you go when you're frustrated because the players are having a 'mare; when it's almost entirely the players making mistakes, & nothing to do with decisions not going your way.

Munster are just struggling at the moment, & nothing is clicking; put them up against the best team in league, & it's not going to be pretty.

[Tichtheid]

They are very, very good at exploiting the fact that ref's really don't want to blow the whistle for every offense !

If Refs blew up every penalty, or free, at ever set piece, then games would last for hours, & we'd be back to three men & a dog watching games.

It's annoying that in theory the games Laws are the same at the top level that they are for everyone else, but that's not the reality.

Doesn't matter what way the game is reffed. We're getting hosed regardless.

And that's why I don't like ref whinging; it's usually where you go when you're frustrated because the players are having a 'mare; when it's almost entirely the players making mistakes, & nothing to do with decisions not going your way.

Munster are just struggling at the moment, & nothing is clicking; put them up against the best team in league, & it's not going to be pretty.

I think both can exist at the same time - two tier refereeing and one's team playing shite.

edit, btw, I think that most penalty counts are the result of pressure, so the better team usually has the better of the count, for the most part

[fishfoodie]

JVDF is an astonishingly consistent player !

He might have had a dip at some stage, but he was probably still playing at 90% of the best of his compatriots.

[fishfoodie]

Doesn't matter what way the game is reffed. We're getting hosed regardless.

And that's why I don't like ref whinging; it's usually where you go when you're frustrated because the players are having a 'mare; when it's almost entirely the players making mistakes, & nothing to do with decisions not going your way.

Munster are just struggling at the moment, & nothing is clicking; put them up against the best team in league, & it's not going to be pretty.

I think both can exist at the same time - two tier refereeing and one's team playing shite.

edit, btw, I think that most penalty counts are the result of pressure, so the better team usually has the better of the count, for the most part

Yeah; defo true !

If a ref sees you make three stupid penalties; when you get to the 4th, they'll probably assume it was the same, so you don't get that benefit of the doubt; & that's where that team reputation for good or ill kicks in.

[Tichtheid]

Cian Healy's 285th game for Leinster - amazing career.

[Uncle fester]

Cian Healy's 285th game for Leinster - amazing career.

Yeah, his longevity has been incredible. Not good for Ireland that he's still in the first XXIII

[Tichtheid]

Cian Healy's 285th game for Leinster - amazing career.

Yeah, his longevity has been incredible. Not good for Ireland that he's still in the first XXIII

Some of these guys are hewn out of stone - WP Nel was 38 when he retired and was still within striking distance of the Scotland 23. Dan Cole is 37, same as Healy. Andrea Lo Cicero was around that age when he bowed out of international rugby.

[fishfoodie]

Cian Healy's 285th game for Leinster - amazing career.

Yeah, his longevity has been incredible. Not good for Ireland that he's still in the first XXIII

His change to make him able to play both sides has added years to his career; it's not something any coach can ignore

[OomStruisbaai]

They are very, very good at exploiting the fact that ref's really don't want to blow the whistle for every offense !

If Refs blew up every penalty, or free, at ever set piece, then games would last for hours, & we'd be back to three men & a dog watching games.

It's annoying that in theory the games Laws are the same at the top level that they are for everyone else, but that's not the reality.

Doesn't matter what way the game is reffed. We're getting hosed regardless.

And that's why I don't like ref whinging; it's usually where you go when you're frustrated because the players are having a 'mare; when it's almost entirely the players making mistakes, & nothing to do with decisions not going your way.

Munster are just struggling at the moment, & nothing is clicking; put them up against the best team in league, & it's not going to be pretty.

Surprise it's a Scot starting the ref bashing. It's tiredsome.

[Uncle fester]

Surprise it's a Scot starting the ref bashing. It's tiredsome.

The new Welsh

[Tichtheid]

Surprise it's a Scot starting the ref bashing. It's tiredsome.

The new Welsh

Easy Tiger.

That guy has been hurt by Biffer and he won't let it lie - it comes out on every other post of his.

I think most of us are in agreement that the standard of refereeing in the league could be a lot better. I've just been arguing on another forum that Leinster were very good tonight, rather than them getting the calls - the person who thought otherwise is an Ulster supporter.

[Uncle fester]

Look it would suit me nicely to blame the ref here and he did make mistakes but the way I look at it is that players make mistakes, sometimes calamatous ones so why is there an expectation that the person in the middle must be perfect?

And even if they are "perfect", the gloves will come off because the moaners aren't actually looking for perfection, they just want the calls to go their way.

[Tichtheid]

Look it would suit me nicely to blame the ref here and he did make mistakes but the way I look at it is that players make mistakes, sometimes calamatous ones so why is there an expectation that the person in the middle must be perfect?

And even if they are "perfect", the gloves will come off because the moaners aren't actually looking for perfection, they just want the calls to go their way.

I'm not sure that last part is correct - the vast majority of us would settle for consistency in decisions and sanctions. That's the infuriating part.

Whenever I go through a game in replay after the white heat of the actual match has gone, I usually find that the decisions I've questioned at the time have been okay or that they have been cancelled out over the course of the match.

However there is a feeling that some teams at club and international level get more than their fair share. Some players seem to be able to do whatever they want and not get carded or banned the same way others do. The third tier in particular have had a grievance on that score for ages.

I think calling "sour grapes" or "not in the spirit" is just burying one's head in the sand.

[Slick]

Look it would suit me nicely to blame the ref here and he did make mistakes but the way I look at it is that players make mistakes, sometimes calamatous ones so why is there an expectation that the person in the middle must be perfect?

And even if they are "perfect", the gloves will come off because the moaners aren't actually looking for perfection, they just want the calls to go their way.

As a point of order, I wasn’t moaning about THE ref, I was making a point that their actions seem to be waved through by all refs. I rarely moan about an individual ref, I’m very much of the “if you don’t have a ref you don’t have a game” brigade.

Oom is just in deflection mode on this constantly

[Uncle fester]

It does happen. The number of games where Italy are competitive and then get a clanger of a decision against them. I've lost count of those.

However in recent times, we have Mack Hansen moaning when in actual fact, the ref let them away with quite a bit of stuff.

I'm not sure what the solution is but I don't feel that "refs need to be better" folk are arguing in good faith.

Edit: this is responding to TH, not slick.

[Tichtheid]

It does happen. The number of games where Italy are competitive and then get a clanger of a decision against them. I've lost count of those.

However in recent times, we have Mack Hansen moaning when in actual fact, the ref let them away with quite a bit of stuff.

I'm not sure what the solution is but I don't feel that "refs need to be better" folk are arguing in good faith.

Edit: this is responding to TH, not slick.

I found myself in agreement with Zebo and Ferris in the prematch tonight, they said that the standard of players and match goes up as you go from league, to Champions Cup and to International rugby. They said the standard of refereeing also goes up and I think what we all want is that the players and referees all improve.

It's come on massively since the Magners League days, but it's not perfect yet, there is still room for improvement - I don't see that as being in any way controversial.

[fishfoodie]

It does happen. The number of games where Italy are competitive and then get a clanger of a decision against them. I've lost count of those.

However in recent times, we have Mack Hansen moaning when in actual fact, the ref let them away with quite a bit of stuff.

I'm not sure what the solution is but I don't feel that "refs need to be better" folk are arguing in good faith.

Edit: this is responding to TH, not slick.

I found myself in agreement with Zebo and Ferris in the prematch tonight, they said that the standard of players and match goes up as you go from league, to Champions Cup and to International rugby. They said the standard of refereeing also goes up and I think what we all want is that the players and referees all improve.

It's come on massively since the Magners League days, but it's not perfect yet, there is still room for improvement - I don't see that as being in any way controversial.

I think we're in broad agreement. It's not about having a cut at Refs, but acknowledging they have a lot on their shoulders, & it's a tough job, & they need good support, & there just needs to be more of them, & that's a lot more likely to happen if those who can become top level refs know they'll get the training & support they need when they're out there on the front line.

Whoever has the whistle, they'll make mistakes but that's part of the gig, & they need their ARs & TMO to backstop them so that the mistakes they honestly make don't become part of the story once the final whistle sounds.

If there's a process that players & coaches believe in when they have a problem with decisions, then they'll stop voicing stuff in the after-match interviews, & they'll keep it in the back channels.

That should be the process; if there's an issue with a decision, you bring it up thru the regular process, & that's how it gets handled; if you bitch about it publicly, then you don't get to also get to litigate it thru the regular process too !!!!

If nothing else it'll make teams fix the process, but they've all got times when they want to use it, but they've also all got times when they want to just deflect from their own failings

[OomStruisbaai]

Look it would suit me nicely to blame the ref here and he did make mistakes but the way I look at it is that players make mistakes, sometimes calamatous ones so why is there an expectation that the person in the middle must be perfect?

And even if they are "perfect", the gloves will come off because the moaners aren't actually looking for perfection, they just want the calls to go their way.

As a point of order, I wasn’t moaning about THE ref, I was making a point that their actions seem to be waved through by all refs. I rarely moan about an individual ref, I’m very much of the “if you don’t have a ref you don’t have a game” brigade.

Oom is just in deflection mode on this constantly

Nee Boet. Don't let me go back to the basic of moans about the ref. The comments are constant about the ref not the play of the game. You like Sards generalise teams getting the rub of the green. Go figure.

[OomStruisbaai]

For Slick and Sards kind of ref bashers

[Sards]

For Slick and Sards kind of ref bashers

I have issues with 1 ref only and will happily not see him anywhere near a Sharks vs Stormers game. But it does seem like the worm is turning. Took long enough. And I am not the only one . Other sides supporters feel the same way about Marius

[Slick]

It does happen. The number of games where Italy are competitive and then get a clanger of a decision against them. I've lost count of those.

However in recent times, we have Mack Hansen moaning when in actual fact, the ref let them away with quite a bit of stuff.

I'm not sure what the solution is but I don't feel that "refs need to be better" folk are arguing in good faith.

Edit: this is responding to TH, not slick.

I found myself in agreement with Zebo and Ferris in the prematch tonight, they said that the standard of players and match goes up as you go from league, to Champions Cup and to International rugby. They said the standard of refereeing also goes up and I think what we all want is that the players and referees all improve.

It's come on massively since the Magners League days, but it's not perfect yet, there is still room for improvement - I don't see that as being in any way controversial.

I think we're in broad agreement. It's not about having a cut at Refs, but acknowledging they have a lot on their shoulders, & it's a tough job, & they need good support, & there just needs to be more of them, & that's a lot more likely to happen if those who can become top level refs know they'll get the training & support they need when they're out there on the front line.

Whoever has the whistle, they'll make mistakes but that's part of the gig, & they need their ARs & TMO to backstop them so that the mistakes they honestly make don't become part of the story once the final whistle sounds.

If there's a process that players & coaches believe in when they have a problem with decisions, then they'll stop voicing stuff in the after-match interviews, & they'll keep it in the back channels.

That should be the process; if there's an issue with a decision, you bring it up thru the regular process, & that's how it gets handled; if you bitch about it publicly, then you don't get to also get to litigate it thru the regular process too !!!!

If nothing else it'll make teams fix the process, but they've all got times when they want to use it, but they've also all got times when they want to just deflect from their own failings

The biggest issue is that literally every decision is now under the microscope in real time and then for days after in a way it wasn’t before. It’s impossible for a ref to get every decision right and as was said above players who make mistakes aren’t under the same scrutiny but people expect the refs to be correct every time. I honestly think the TMO has exacerbated this and destroyed the basic rugby tenet that the ref is the sole arbiter.

If we expect the refs to get everything right and insist on the TMO then I don’t think they should have any input at all to the decision making process - show a clip, keep quiet.

I think you can give all the training you want but it’s up to us as supporters and players to change our behaviour and accept that honest mistakes happen and get back to appreciating it’s just a game. We all get caught up in the moment on occasion but things rumbling on for days is shit.




As an aside, watched a Level 5 game the other day and seeing a bloke give up his time and deal with the game on his own was bloody impressive.

[Slick]

Look it would suit me nicely to blame the ref here and he did make mistakes but the way I look at it is that players make mistakes, sometimes calamatous ones so why is there an expectation that the person in the middle must be perfect?

And even if they are "perfect", the gloves will come off because the moaners aren't actually looking for perfection, they just want the calls to go their way.

As a point of order, I wasn’t moaning about THE ref, I was making a point that their actions seem to be waved through by all refs. I rarely moan about an individual ref, I’m very much of the “if you don’t have a ref you don’t have a game” brigade.

Oom is just in deflection mode on this constantly

Nee Boet. Don't let me go back to the basic of moans about the ref. The comments are constant about the ref not the play of the game. You like Sards generalise teams getting the rub of the green. Go figure.

Completely missing the point as usual

[Chilli2]

The Stomps / $harks game is a difficult one to call.

The $harks have the better team on paper.
The Stomps team is a bit meh, but will probably win.

[Sandstorm]

FFS Sasha injured after 40 seconds

[Sandstorm]

Libbok missed two kicks already. Drunken mule.

[Sards]

That was backwards out the hand

[Sandstorm]

That was backwards out the hand

Sure it was. Ref called it BTW, not your enemy Marius.

[Sandstorm]

10-5 Sharks
33 mins

[Slick]

Edinburgh 3 - 0 Glasgow, half time

Better game than it sounds!

[Sards]

What the actual vok

Thought that was brilliant from Hooker

[Uncle fester]

It does happen. The number of games where Italy are competitive and then get a clanger of a decision against them. I've lost count of those.

However in recent times, we have Mack Hansen moaning when in actual fact, the ref let them away with quite a bit of stuff.

I'm not sure what the solution is but I don't feel that "refs need to be better" folk are arguing in good faith.

Edit: this is responding to TH, not slick.

I found myself in agreement with Zebo and Ferris in the prematch tonight, they said that the standard of players and match goes up as you go from league, to Champions Cup and to International rugby. They said the standard of refereeing also goes up and I think what we all want is that the players and referees all improve.

It's come on massively since the Magners League days, but it's not perfect yet, there is still room for improvement - I don't see that as being in any way controversial.

I think we're in broad agreement. It's not about having a cut at Refs, but acknowledging they have a lot on their shoulders, & it's a tough job, & they need good support, & there just needs to be more of them, & that's a lot more likely to happen if those who can become top level refs know they'll get the training & support they need when they're out there on the front line.

Whoever has the whistle, they'll make mistakes but that's part of the gig, & they need their ARs & TMO to backstop them so that the mistakes they honestly make don't become part of the story once the final whistle sounds.

If there's a process that players & coaches believe in when they have a problem with decisions, then they'll stop voicing stuff in the after-match interviews, & they'll keep it in the back channels.

That should be the process; if there's an issue with a decision, you bring it up thru the regular process, & that's how it gets handled; if you bitch about it publicly, then you don't get to also get to litigate it thru the regular process too !!!!

If nothing else it'll make teams fix the process, but they've all got times when they want to use it, but they've also all got times when they want to just deflect from their own failings

All of the above is already happening. There is a very formal process of feedback and ref mistakes are acknowledged but there are teams that just won't work with this system and attempt to pressure refs from all angles.

[Sandstorm]

What the actual vok

Thought that was brilliant from Hooker

He can’t join the side of a ruck

[Sandstorm]

JLDP is fucking shite.

[Sandstorm]

Try Libbok
17-10 Stormers
69 mins

[Sandstorm]

Stormers win 24-20
Scrappy game with plenty of errors and even more injuries

[Sards]

How was that not a scrum penalty to the Sharks in that last scrum

[Sandstorm]

How was that not a scrum penalty to the Sharks in that last scrum

Hard lines Sards

[OomStruisbaai]

Bonus point win against the Tjarks. Good crowd, good sportsmanship between the players. Can't get better then this.