Only one ref that counts

The rugby fans, plus many others too, are well-aware of what happened in Melbourne the evening of September 15th!

The media has been alive with comments and opinions, from the sports pundits and other experts, about the actions of French referee Matthieu Raynal in the 78th minute of the test. And it looks like the fallout will continue to rage for some time yet, particularly across the ditch! Of course, Raynal is not the first ref to cop serious verbal spray from losing teams, and he certainly won’t be the last.

Here are a couple of comments I noted: “Worst call in rugby history…” and “One of the worst refereeing decisions in Wallabies history.” The words “abject stupidity” and “disgraceful decision” were also used by some bashing the ref.

I even saw a comment that likened this to the infamous cricket underarm incident with the Chappell brothers, back when Rob Muldoon was our PM. The writer suggested this might become the Aussies very own ‘underarm’ moment in sports rivalry history between our two nations. Interestingly, the underarm delivery also happened in Melbourne… at the MCG in February 1981.

Muldoon, not often lost for words, weighed in with the witty comment, “I thought it was most appropriate that the Australian team was dressed in yellow”.

I have spent considerable time on the sidelines or in sports crowds over the years. With our young children, Saturdays saw us juggling between three codes: soccer, rugby, and netball. I did get to run the flag on the sideline a few times as well. I saw more than enough to decide that reffing a game just wasn’t for me. I mean, why bother!

The all-too-common verbal abuse from parents and rellies, or other team supporters… I figured there have to be better ways to spend my Saturdays. For sure, I take my hat off to those that volunteer for this cauldron each week.

Think about it for a moment; back in the ‘good old days’ rugby only had the one referee. Now we have four! And as I recall, the rule book was less intrusive then than it is today.

Surely things could be simplified, it is just a game after all. Maybe the players should have the option to yellow or red card the ref? Or perhaps take it a step further; surely the players could just decide amongst themselves what’s right and wrong!

After all, this is 2022 and we do have 30 ‘adults’ running round the paddock. They must be civilised enough, evolved enough, and have sufficient maturity by now to decide what’s right for them. Let them run their own game without numerous officials needing to hold their hands.

I find it more than just interesting that for the games we play, we need complex and detailed rule books, with officials and supervisors to keep us on course. Talking rugby again, for the 30 players on the field, we have three referees, plus the TMO, and the help of TV cameras to spy on their every move.

Talk about micromanagement and microsupervision! All to look after 30 adults who apparently can’t be trusted to decide right from wrong themselves. Truly amazing!

And yet for life and living, which of course is rather more serious than an 80-minute game, we’re big boys and girls now! Don’t need any supervisor eh, certainly not a Divine One to advise; or blow any whistle! Yeah right!

Keep well and God bless.

To contact Colin Miller email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.