Nige the Ref Finishing

[Neils]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/nov/24/nigel-owens-get-back-to-the-referee-reffing-the-game-rugby-union

Interesting comments.

[hookender]

As long as he’s fit enough to keep up with ,don’t see why world rugby would drop him,his decision making is no worse than anyone else’s

[Heathen]

I love this para : The Prem refs need to take a leaf out of his book.

He also reckons too many referees make the mistake of being excessively matey – “just referee the game” – with players on the field. Not everyone can be blessed with Owens’s sharp sense of humour or self-deprecating manner. “I remember promising, as a surprise, to referee an U12s game between Pencoed and Cwmbran, the day after a European fixture between Leicester v Ulster. The look on the kids’ faces was a picture. Well, apart from one little winger sat in the corner. ‘I do hope,’ he said to me, ‘that you’re going to referee this game better than you did last night’s.’”

[hopwood]

To be honest....I think Nigel's decision making has diminished.
He's made quite a few wrong calls over the past 2 years.
Way more than he did, say 5 years ago.

Whether the pace of the game is catching up...or the he's slowing down...but he's certainly not at the standard he used to be.
Wayne Barnes and a few others are way out in front.

But that's not to say that Nigel should retire yet.
His experience can still help bring through the next batch of refs.
But I would have him in the Premiership and Cup games these days.

[hookender]

[quote author=hopwood link=topic=2853.msg47449#msg47449 date=1606323732

But that's not to say that Nigel should retire yet.
His experience can still help bring through the next batch of refs.
But I would have him in the Premiership and Cup games these days.
[/quote]

Is that would or wouldn’t?

In any case doesn’t do premiership

[welsh wasp]

My favour Nigel story after he’d blown up for a crooked lineout throw - “I’m straighter than that throw.”

[bigad82]

Hope he is has good a farmer has he is a referee.

[wasps]

I always find it interesting to see people's views on the top refs.

Nigel often gets commended for letting a game flow... Which means not blowing the whistle when there are some transgressions of laws

Other referees get lambasted for missing things or for not imposing themselves..
 And some get accused of not understanding the game if they're seen blow the whistle too often even if there has been something contravening the laws each time


I referred a few games when I was recovering from injury..... All I can say is that it's far easier to play the game than it is to officiate it.
Anyone who can make a career out of it and generally make the correct decisions most of the time gets my respect

[westwaleswasp]

Top bloke. Always felt, however, that he was, as so many Welshmen are, enthralled to the All Blacks  and their style, to the point where his refereeing philosophy denied teams deserved  victory against them, notably Ireland and England. If England were playing Australia there is nobody I would rather have, but if he was reffing the All Blacks I expected them to get away with everything, and they normally did. I also felt that Nigel was one of the matey-est refs about, and in many ways this was a positive thing at the time- many refs lacked empathy for the players until he came along. Now it has gone the other way.

I do think the game has benefited from him, I hope we keep him about in some way. He probably is past his best,  but to go on for as long as he has is impressive enough.....

[hookender]

Owens has today announced he will not be reffing any more internationals. Will carry on in pro 14

[Neils]

Owens has today announced he will not be reffing any more internationals. Will carry on in pro 14

I think that is him told he won't ref on. He wanted to bow out at the 6N which is where he started. Shame.