The incident just before half time has no doubt created a lot of discussion about the accuracy of the decision and the exact law in place, but I would be interested in the views with respect to game management !
I have been a mini / junior and senior ref ( at low level in the UK ), and one of the aspects that assessors would often say to me is 'materiality' ! 'Did it really matter', the classic situation being not straight at the lineout if the opposition do not compete !
He ( the ref ) knows the ball went straight out, but everyone, Northampton, Leicester, the crowd, the commentators ( the dancing girls !!! ) all expected and reacted as if it was half time !
In your opinion would the game have been managed better if the ref had just blown for half time ( with a "kick was straight out, scrum offence, time up, half time" points to tunnel ... ) ?
Did it really matter that the kick went 6 inches ( or whatever the distance ) past the touch line ?
Cheers
Paul
PS: Lets not even, for the sake of Brian Moore's sanity, raise the not straight at the scrum not being pinged !! :-)
Hi Paul
We are talking about the Final between Tigers and Saints.
What you have to ask yourself is "did it have a material affect on the game?" The answer is "Yes it did", because had the referee blown for half time, ignoring the law, then the opposition would have been denied their right to play the ball, and as it turns out denied the opportunity to score three points. Getting the law wrong and denying a point scoring opportunity would have been a critical error for the referee.
Taking your example of the line out, you also have to ask yourself "why are they not competing?" Is it because the referee is not policing the not straight, therefore they have given up competing?
Materiality and letting he game flow is not an easy skill to master.
The Rugby Ref
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