Top Rugby Ref calls for TMO’s to be banished

Former top referee Peter Marshall has called for the television match
official used in top level rugby to be abolished.

Marshall speaking through his blog on www.heavensgame.com used an example from last weekend’s third Lions test in South Africa to make his point “the decision by the TMO in the 3rd South Africa v Lions Test after more than 3 minutes and 14 replays – “no try”. He ruled Ngani’s foot touched the touch line prior to him grounding the ball over the goal line. This decision was highly debatable. What did the TMO see in the 14th that he didn’t see in the 8th or 10th replay to confirm Ngani’s foot touched the touch line?”

Marshall made valid points around the time taken to make the decision.
Points which were echoed on the leading rugby union podcast RuggaMatrix by host Djuro Sen when talking to Irish Rugby’s defensive coach Les Kiss.

Marshall made a telling point at the end of the post “It will be argued
that there is so much money riding on the results of games these days that we must continue to use TMO’s so they get the decision correct. During the 2009 Super 14 season there were a number of decisions that were incorrectly made by the TMO; these were obvious for all to see.

It is time to revert back to the referee being the decision maker on the
field in consultation with his assistant referees, for the good of the
game of Rugby.”

With many rugby fans discussing the necessity of the TMO Marshall may well have provided the public voice for private opinion.

Barack Obama in at 10 and John McCain is picked as a hooker

With the US presidential election looming large I thought it prudent to assess each of the candidates for their potential position on the rugby pitch (vital analysis I know).

There have been a few world leaders over the years who have had significant ties to the rugby pitch (I even think the present US president played a little).

So down to business knowing the skills and physique needed for each position and having covered many of the physiques! I feel that I am well qualified to comment. Here we go…

Starting with the current poll favourite Barak Obama:

If Barack Obama was a rugby player then he would surely be an outside half full of silky skill commanding and orchestrating the players around him. Making the match run at his pace and on his terms.

And onto his challenger John McCain:

John McCain would have to be the dogged hooker who you just could shake off, always scrapping never giving up. You will find him packing into every scrum and hitting every ruck and maul at pace. His commitment finally wearing down the most worthy of challengers.

Who would the crowd love more? Usually in rugby the outside half gets all the plaudits… well I suppose we will soon find out whether this rings true in US Politics also.

Estonian Rugby gaining traction

The Tallinn Tigers community program has attracted many schools in Tallinn and inspired other schools to know more.We have been asked to attend a parents evening which will allow us to meet hundreds of parents in one place and put our philosophy on coaching people not sport forward.

This inner city school has had rugby for over 8 years and many of the parents have had their children go through the Tigers youth team, but the Healthy lifestyle project is something new and exciting for all concerned.

Jeanette Orrey or should we say The Dinner Lady left Estonia rugby with a challenge that we will relish.The kitchen/herb garden for the school will be started this week and a three year plan for the school to introduce cooking lessons, farm visits and Urban farming within the school grounds is underway. Healthy eating can be taught and encouraged by rugby coaches, but parents must be involved at home.

Rugby is a pure community sport that can focus, motivate people, and take on topics such as drug education, integration, community policing because that’s what rugby is all about people.

What is the geatest rugby rivalry?

At any level a local derby is pretty significant. Whether it be Penclawdd RFC versus Gowerton in West Wales rugby or the Warringah versus Manly duels in the Shute Shield, these are keenly contested matches.

At the international level the obvious candidates for a good old fashioned humdinger are New Zealand v South Africa or England v Scotland.

Personally, I believe that the Varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge universities carries the torch for the greatest rivalry. It has tradition, passion, the feel of a real event and it exists without the need for huge TV contracts or too make a few dollars more.

It is truly the greatest rugby rivalry.

Finally the ELV’s deliver

It has been a while coming but the ELV’s have finally thrown up a couple of good matches in a row. Both the Chiefs v Crusaders and Reds v Force highlighted the benefits of the new laws.

While I am writing I have thought of another improvement that needs to be rushed into the new ELV’s, the more penalties a team kicks in a match the more they are worth points wise, so up to 4 they are worth 3 points, 5 – 6 they increase to 4 points etc… probably needs a bit of work but would give the more cynical teams food for thought.

Next big rugby power – Russia

So who will it be?

There are the obvious suspects…. Georgia, Fiji, Romania, USA, Canada…. etc.

For me it is Russia. Why? They have a fledgling pro league. They have the population. They have the physique and they don’t need the 6 nations.

They sit in the perfect spot, they can play the European teams, they can play the Asian teams and they can play the North Americans travel isn’t a problem. Their only hinderance is the weather, even that can be worked around.

I think that they will qualify for the 2011 RWC. There, I’ve said it!