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referrals
Referrals and Rugby
By Richard Seeckts last year, at the end of February, No Comments; be the first!
If you think the umpiring referral system is a shambles, have a look at English rugby. For while Daryl Harper spent much of Saturday making a fool of himself and a laughing stock of the ICC’s latest brainwave, the wheels came right off Martin Johnson’s sweet chariot in Dublin.
We can cope with a team losing, all teams’ fortunes wax and wane over time, but the sheer bone-headed stupidity of some England players beggars belief. They seem more intent on perfecting their body checking, tripping and barging techniques than on scoring points. Cynical play, aka cheating, may well be integral in top-flight rugby, but England are not even any good at that. They get caught all the time.
England’s rugby currently offers zero entertainment, zero quality and zero value for money. With Twickenham tickets at £85, one could question the sanity of those still making the trek to the old cabbage patch, unless they keep going in hope of an Erica Roe comeback. Curiously, however, there is still plenty of excellent club rugby to watch at far more reasonable prices.
Rugby makes better use of technology for referee decisions, though. No player involvement, no guessing for the television match official, just a clear question from the on field referee to answer. Cricket could learn something from rugby. On field umpires should be told to ask the third umpire a specific question if he has doubt, and then make his decision. This could relate to any factual information that technology can provide, with the final decision resting with the on field umpire. Mr Harper playing Eeny Meeny Miny Mo cannot be allowed to continue.
No Comments »Search referral of the day: “standard poodles gibbs”
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of February, 3 Comments »
It amuses me what people search for, and end up here – on a cricket blog. The latest are “standard poodles gibbs” and, less strange but still funny; “crazy ray jennings cricket“
3 Comments »