We have all seen it, a dubious decision, a contentious call, a referee over-eager to stamp his authority in a game. In Rugby Union, with the breakdown and the scrum especially being determined by so many factors, it appears the the team quicker to adapt to these rulings may be victorious. 

The repercussions of a bad call is never really recorded. The best example of this was refereeing in South Africa, before politics called for the country to be banned from international rugby.  The officiating was said by many to be horribly one-sided.

All games are influenced one way or another by the referee.  Recent examples are the Wallabies' victory in Melbourne over the All Blacks. Carl Hayman was sin-binned for an alleged ruck offence.  This resulted in two tries in his absence when the New Zealanders had some measure of dominance for the majority of the game. The most recent is when Ireland where awarded a match-winning try when Ronan O'Gara clearly spilled the ball and did not properly ground it.

'A nagging word, a sniping remark, said in the correct manner has been shown to sway the officials'


Many pundits state, fair or otherwise, that the All Blacks are the most streetwise team in World Rugby - and the most abundant cheaters (the finger here points to Richie McCaw).  Yet the New Zealanders' most clear dominance is in the ruck area, one of the most heavily-policed areas of the game.

Other purists would state the Wallabies are in fact the biggest benders of the rules.  How is it that a scrum so often under pressure seems to be awarded penalties? How many Australian line-out forwards automatically shift weight to close the channel on an opposition throw?

How many times has a scrum that has marched over a weaker pack been pinged - for incorrect technique?  While most genuinely believe that the 2003 World Cup Final was a magnificent game, many were shocked by the referee's seeming intention to neutralise England's clearly more powerful scrum with his whistle.

This then points to interpretation, and ability to influence the man with the whistle.  Old rugby adage dictates home advantage is worth 5-10 points, due to the crowd's sway.  However, this is where men like George Gregan are worth every one of their 100-plus caps. A nagging word, a sniping remark, said in the correct manner has been shown to sway the officials. This is the Wallabies' great strength.  Many would also argue that this is the All Blacks' great weakness.  The last great All Black referee was Sean Fitzpatrick, but only Tana Umaga has come close to being able to influence the officials as a modern AB captain.

The Australian Provincial Championship is trialling new laws set by the International Rugby Board designed to speed up the game and clear up "muddled" areas. Chris Latham recently stated correctly that the team that best interprets the officials will win this World Cup.  We hope for consistency - that if one team is penalised, no matter how odd the penalty, that the opposition team will be pinged for the same infringement.  We trust that before implementing a major call, such as a sending off, that the team captain will be sufficiently warned.  We like to think that the touch judges watch the game and assist.

And we pray that the best team or the best players, or both of these with the finest game plan wins this World Cup. And that we have a lover of rugby officiating the crunch games, not a man who loves the sound of his own voice or whistle.