Crusaders v Stormers: Chris Pollock
Super Rugby is joined once again by Aviva Premiership, RaboDirect PRO12 and Top 14 rugby this weekend as officials receive their assignments.
Super Rugby, Week 8
Blues vs Sharks in Auckland
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match officials: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Force vs Waratahs in Perth
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
Television match officials: George Ayoub (Australia)
Crusaders vs Stormers in Christchurch
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match officials: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Brumbies vs Rebels in Canberra
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
Television match officials: Steve Lesczcynski (Australia)
Cheetahs vs Chiefs in Bloemfontein
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match officials: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Lions vs Bulls in Johannesburg
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match officials: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Pro 12
Leinster vs Edinburgh
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Assessor: Michael Carroll (Ireland)
Connacht vs Ulster
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Keane (Ireland) Eanna O'Dowd (Ireland)
Television match official: Sean Flannery (Ireland)
Assessor: John Sheehan (Ireland)
Blues vs Ospreys
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Tim Hayes (Wales), Jon Mason (Wales)
Television match official: Neil Ballard (Wales)
Munster vs Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Jonathan Peak (Ireland)
Television match official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
Assessor: Bertie Smith (Ireland)
Aironi vs Scarlets
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Dragons vs Treviso
Referee: James Matthew (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Chris Williams (Wales)
Television match official: Tony Rowlands (Wales) (Wales)
Aviva Premiership
Sale Sharks vs Bath
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant referees: Alan Hughes, Robin Goodliffe
Television match official: Trevor Fisher
Timekeeper: Anthony Turner
Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers
Referee: David Pearson
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes, Paul Dix
Television match official: Geoffrey Warren
Timekeeper: David Hudson
Assessor: Brian Campsall
Gloucester vs Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Paul Burton
Timekeeper: Mike Hamlin
London Irish vs Saracens
Referee: Martin Fox
Assistant referees: Roy Maybank, Rhys Davies
Timekeeper: Brian Abrahams
Worcester Warriors vs Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Gareth Copsey, Alan Biggs
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant
Harlequins vs London Wasps
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Andrew Pearce, Peter Huckle
Television match official: Graham Hughes
Timekeeper: Roy Marfleet
Top 14, Round 23
Perpignan vs Toulouse at Stade Aimé Giral
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Assistant referees: Alexandre Ruiz, Laurent Sclafer
Television match official: Laurent Valin
Clermont vs Stade Français at Parc Des Sports Marcel Michelin
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: David Rosich, Christophe Clavere
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
Agen vs Toulon at Stade Armandie
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Cédric Marchat, Didier Dussaut
Television match official: Eric Gonthier
Racing-Métro vs Brive at Stade Yves Du Manoir (Colombes)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco, Dominique Parrini
Television match official: Jean-Marie Piraveau
Montpellier vs Lyon at Stade Yves Du Manoir (Montpellier)
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Nicolas Datas, Christophe Malterre
Television match official: Bernard Dal Maso
Bayonne vs Biarritz at Stade Jean Dauger
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Assistant referees: Patrick Pechambert, Patrick Beuriot
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat
Castres vs Bordeaux-Bègles at Stade Pierre Antoine
Referee: Franck Maciello
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Bruno Fiche
Comments
blindmice says...
Ruckingkiwi, not so. if you are not bound on the ruck and you are in front of it then you are off side (even with attacking ball). Driving over/through it and obstructing the defense in front of the ruck also is a PK for obstruction. That said, the policing of this aspect of the game is a little lax, i will grant you that. The concept of offside pillars operates on the same concept. Attacking players not bound to the ruck, stand in front of the hindmost foot to obstruct defenders getting to the scrum half.
Posted 10:26 12th April 2012
Ramage says...
Interesting one writer, joerugby, is bemused about one decision by Pollock but otherwise saw a brilliant display. Another,Jay Starr sees 7 forward passes, 3 "clear" early engagements, believes cynical play can only occur near the team's own goal line. Therefore the yellow card was incorrect. He then assumes what he believes he saw would be supported in the referees review and this will help the Stormers. What happen if they supported Pollock on this part of the game would it mean the Stormers would be hindered and have they gone out to eliminate these illegal moves including always falling over the wrong side of the rucks and mauls. He also, because of his own beliefs as a fan, and amateur referee sees Pollock as being unfair on the Stormers. Ahem I wonder whether these views wer also in anyway backed up by the match review. I see that Trinuts thinks Jay Starr is talking crap and has belted him pretty hard with his own thoughts. Just goes to show how different fans with all their inherent bias should not be labelling the referees as being as biased or unfair as they the fans themselves are. At least Jay Starr has tried to give his reasons, weak as they were. It is appreciated and interesting to see his reasons rather than some posts that appear in these columns.
Posted 07:35 11th April 2012
JayStarr says...
@ joerugby: He warned the Stormers a few moments earlier about cynical play after Duanne Vermeulen and then Deon Fourie deliberately played the ball on the ground while the Highlanders were attacking close to their goal line. He had a point there, so no problem...
But then he gave Tiaan Liebenberg a yellow card - saying that he again played the ball on the ground. The only problem was they weren't anywhere close to their goal line - so it certainly wasn't cynical (i.e. what he warned them about) - and you could see that Lienberg legitimately went for the ball... and some would say won it legally (I've seen many balls turned over like that this season)...
So that yellow card was definitely incorrect.
HOWEVER, I do think that it will count in the Stormers' favour that they have Pollock for the 2nd week running. They are familiar with his style of reffing now and he is familiar with their approach now - so he can tell them what he didn't like them doing in the game before and they can understand each other better...
But more importantly, I'm sure in his match review his errors would've been highlighted to him (and his assistants - who are also again involved this week).
Besides the incorrect yellow card, they also missed at least 7 clear forward passes from the Highlanders and another 3 clear early engages...
Pollock also failed to reward the advantage the Stormers had in the scrums by penalising the Highlanders. In the first scrum he penalised the Stormers for going straight down - but the Highlanders folded! Then for the rest of the match, every time the scrum collapsed from the pressure the Stormers were putting the Highlanders under, Pollock just reset the scrum...
So hopefully he's realised his mistakes and will be fairer towards the Stormers this week.
Posted 22:11 09th April 2012
joerugby says...
Did not quite understand why Pollock gave the yellow in the Stormers Highlanders game? Spoilt what was essentially a brilliant reffing display!
Posted 17:27 09th April 2012