If ever an argument was needed for not having Video Refs, todays Semi was it.

The most gutless reffing performance I have ever seen since Video refs were introduced.

Absolutely shocking for most of those decisions to go to the video.

A couple yes were understadable, but others shocking.

How long has going to the video ref for scrum decisions been allowed.

It needs stopping now, it could set a worrying precedent. Video refs take too long as it is. We don't need them umming and aahing over even more calls.

Is it any different for using the video ref to see whether to restart a game with a goal-line drop out or a tap on the 20?

Not really, but as I said, it could start a worrying trend. What would be next? Checking every dropped ball to see if it's a knock on, or a ball steal?

I can just about live with drop outs and such, the balls in the try-scoring area, but his choice to use video evidence today was a new one.

I was more worried at the fact that he could see some of the decisions clearly, yet still did not have the balls to give the decision himself.

I am all for using the technology when it is doubtfull, but when clear make the decision and get on with the game.

Best example was the Leon Pryce not try at end of first half. It was clear as day he never got the ball down. The ref was in the best position to see, and looking right at it. The players gave the game away by their body language that it was never a try, they never expected anything different.

Yet he went to the video.

Then he topped it off further by as clear a double movement as you are going to see just seconds later, and again he went to the video for clarification.

I ewas convinced the double movement one was going to be given. I recall Bradfod being given one in similar circumstances at the Meal Anyone Weekend.


Not that I have any axes to grind over reffing decisions at said weekends, they are normally spot on.

That was hape!!!

Cummings out until then nothing will change.

ref by video is the way its going now, usually they dont maje it as obvious as today though, the ref will pretend to consult the touchjudges while the replays are watched and hes told in his ear what to do

the scrum decision shows poor officials, he didnt see it, the tj didnt see it, so he went to the video

For me the Eastmond try was very simple, from first glance on tv he looked held up, there was no need to go to the screen, however what angle did the ref see it from? If he couldnt see it clear he has every right to go to the screen

Some good points regarding the use of the VR to decide on scrums and drop outs. This is something that is creeping into the game more and more. Have i missed a change in the rules allowing the referee to consult on these type of incidents? I only thought they were allowed to be consulted for try scoring opportunties and 40-20's.

A large part of the problem has to be that the tj's appear to do less and less to help the ref. Some of the decisions passed to the vr today would not have to have been were those 3 all doing their jobs

I thought Silverwood was going to go to the video ref for what meat was on his sunday dinner tonight !

There was one occasion when I was glad he went to video because he'd called the decision totally wrong and the video clearly put him right (when a Hudds player touched the ball first but Deadwood said we had knocked on). It wasn't a significant moment as it turned out, but it could have been.

The problem is prolly not with the video ref but with the clowns we call refs on the pitch.

Brett Hodgson agrees with you on that one, although he did say that they weren't allowed to ask the third umpire. Probably still gloating about events at Headingley.

Why would David Hodgson be gloating about the working class Aussies stuffing the public schoolboys at cricket?

If you could tell, at full speed from parallel to the incident, that the Huddersfield player had played at the ball then you need to be out in Afghanistan finding Osama Bin Laden with that eyesight.

It got the merest flick off an outstretched finger, without the video there it would probably have been given as a Huddersfield head and feed. Do you want decisions made immediately or do you want them made right?

Depends on who gets the decision

Yeah, good point.

Do they have to be mutually exclusive concepts?

No, but there needs to be an acceptance that they are not always going to be the same thing either. I've no problems with fans wanting decisions made on the spot, providing they are prepared to accept that the numerous video replays we are subjected to by broadcasters will show some of them up to be wrong.

Experience would suggest however that fans have unrealistic expectations of match officials.

Is it unrealsitic to want consistent decisions within the same game???????
In games such as semi's and finals i've no problem using the video refs as many times as they want as long the decisions are clear and correct.

Define "consistent".

Well if they are penalising the ptb area in a certain game i'd expect BOTH teams to be penalised,the same with goal line defence and moving off the mark etc.
I accept they will make mistakes ive no problem with that but what is annoying is one team getting penalised when the opposition get away with exactly the same thing it's hapening far too often imo and needs eradicating.