So, we will have a Six Nations after all.
Despite some worrying weeks, it now has the green light and will kick off bang on time.
The conclusion, on March 20th, seems an aeon away. Unions and governments will be watching carefully; Covid has it all somewhat on tenterhooks, and many fingers will be crossed that it will run its natural course.
Most officials have an understandable desire to mitigate reckless player behaviour, but this attitude has to change if rugby wants to keep existing.
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) January 2, 2021
There’s already a lawsuit ffs, how are people not getting how bad this looks? pic.twitter.com/NlkFU4JroQ
A view which must be understood and respected is that it is insensitive, just wrong, to go ahead when we are surrounded by death and serious illness. But the competition, financial imperatives apart, will bring enjoyment, distraction, and much needed food for debate and discussion. We should look forward to it.
While wishing an end to boring rugby dominated by box kicks, scrum resets, endless mauls and collisions, there are things which we really must not see.
Here goes . . .
From the rugby played over the last month or so, it would be a pleasure to report a reduction in dangerous play and that all are on board with the red card sanctions as per law and World Rugby protocols. Sadly, this is not the case, even more sadly the match officials have been too slack, too often.
The legally established players’ duty of care for opponents seems to have completely gone out the window. Some of the so-called ‘hits’ and breakdown entries have been vicious.
Take Daniel du Preez’s hard-shoulder into the back of the neck of opponent Chris Harris, as the Gloucester player was falling to ground. It was a shocker from the Sale forward.
Apart from concussion, we all know that severe damage to the upper spinal cord will result in the most catastrophic of injuries. Luckily, Harris was able to walk off – he might well have ended up in a wheel-chair.
Referee Karl Dickson and TMO Geoff Warren did absolutely nothing. Warren didn't even bother to show this assault to the referee – and assault is the word. Warren, in the TMO booth for donkey's years, should hang up his boots without delay.
Correctly it was cited, but more nonsense soon followed as the judicial panel handed down a paltry three-week suspension for Du Preez. Until meaningful suspensions are handed out, is there any hope of changing these behaviours, and properly protecting players?
Maybe players would take more care if they were also hit in their pockets, with equally meaningful fines tagged to suspensions.
Cardiff versus Scarlets recently – ball carrier Dimitri Arhip hit his forearm into the head of Scarlets Sione Kalamafoni as he attempted to tackle; their combined 'tonnage' of 240 kgs (530 lbs in old money) contributing to a sickening impact. The action would have seen Tyson Furey disqualified.
Kalamafoni was unconscious before he hit the ground. However, TMO, Ian Davies, on another solo run, decided that this "hit" was perfectly legal. Subsequent smoke-screen talk of poor tackle technique has nothing whatsoever to do with it. A very red card offence ended up as an uncited non-event. Unacceptable.
I have no idea when TMOs became empowered to make unilateral decisions on such serious incidents while the referee is subservient. It needs to stop.
As all this is happening, some influential match officials, players, coaches, citers and commentators are way off message. What part of “a player cannot strike an opponent to the head” do these people not get?
Deluded
Everyone must acquaint themselves with the reports on rugby brain injuries by foremost neuropathologist expert Dr Ann McKee. Her findings alone should be enough for every player, partner, and parent to fear greatly the effects of blows to the head and subsequent brain deterioration.
Too many are living in a deluded state of nimbyism – “it’ll never happen to me”. Meanwhile, recent evidence of early-onset dementia points precisely in the opposite direction.
The business of player backchat, appealing, shouting at the referee, must also be stopped in its tracks. Now is an opportunity to lay down definitive markers. Referees must be strong without being harsh, weakness gets them nowhere.
Bristol's Kyle Sinkler produced a John McEnroe-esque moment screaming "you must be f***ing joking" at Karl Dickson (yes, him again) who saw no reason to take offence; whereas a card, of either colour, would have done the job nicely. Unbelievably, the subsequent penalty went to Bristol. It was cited, and a two-week suspension followed.
Is there any chance that we will see referees dropping their first name false chumminess, dropping their supercilious smiling, instead adopting a firmer more matter of fact approach? Their current modus operandi badly smudges the invisible but necessary line of authority. It also contributes to a lack of respect from players, which is exactly what we are seeing.
On a positive note, it seems referees are now looking at keeping defences back the required 10 metres until lineouts are over. Discussed here before, this has great potential to open up attacking space. Important to watch how it goes.
Due to Covid, only one referee from the southern hemisphere, South African Jaco Peyper, will come north – for England v France. If his travel is deemed unwise, finding an adequate replacement will be a headache.
Sunday sees the familiar figure of Wayne Barnes handle our match against Wales. On Saturday, first out of the blocks is Matt Carley for Italy v France, then Andrew Brace at Twickenham for England v Scotland.
Let’s clink a glass to the start, and to the safe conclusion of this great championship.
Owen Doyle is a former Test referee and former director of referees with the IRFU
