ROUND 5 TAKEAWAYS | URC

[@liamwilliams6651]

Seen a funny comment that said "Imagine passing the ball to your little brother so that he can get smashed by Aki".

[@Snags-sy8is]

Snyman playing consistently and very well is the most pleasing thing for me this season, correct. And yes doubly so because it has got to be killing Munster.

[@dandreehlers9817]

Identical tackle happened in the sharks game and it was a yellow...ref said the tackler was static...there was way more force in the glasgow tackle but it was yellow...if u look at this then grobelaar shouldve gotten just a pen or maybe yellow...but scarlets got away with 2 head contacts, 1 shoulder charge to wiese and tackling hanekom on the line from an offside position(which should be pen try)

[@AC-hu3xk]

Yes

[@l8on17]

Asking for Consistency is like telling someone not to use their judgement. You won’t get consistency unless you move to AI

[@brucerobinson3124]

​@@l8on17 that's only a fair comment if the refs don't have the TMO and take minutes to carefully consider the decision on head contact. In that situation, the minimum requirement is consistency!

[@rosswatson4003]

The refs in the sharks game got it correct.

[@RalphAucamp-r4o]

Did Tim watch the whole Bulls game?

[@theriddler5601]

Regardless of the result, the Scarlets made an identical tackle earlier and conceded a penalty for it and nothing more. It’s not about what the refs think is the right decision, it’s about the fact that they are walking contradictions.

[@dandreehlers9817]

No consitancies yeah😢, Identical tackle happened in the sharks game and it was a yellow...ref said the tackler was static...there was way more force in the glasgow tackle but it was yellow...if u look at this then grobelaar shouldve gotten just a pen or maybe yellow...but scarlets got away with 2 head contacts, 1 shoulder charge to wiese and tackling hanekom on the line from an offside position(which should be pen try)

[@jacquescoetzee47]

The refereeing this round was absolutely diabolical. In almost every game at least one team should feel seriously aggrieved, and the curious thing is that the main problem areas centred around high tackles and scrums. I suspect there was some mandate behind the scenes when it comes to these two areas, otherwise I can’t think why these two areas in particular were so wildly inconsistent from game to game. It was like watching different sports.

[@inamortz2372]

The youngfella in charge of Zebre vs Lions was good.

[@Camcolito]

As a Leinster fan it's great to have R.G. "Dennis Irwin" Snyman on board. Solid as a rock, can get you a try, never injured.

[@randomlyfactual1943]

Munster fans are going to love that one 😂

[@liverman9000]

As a Springbok fan, you're welcome... 😂

[@neilshrekpurves4521]

@@Camcolito Munster shouldn't be sad, they tried to cook him

[@azurra1374]

never injured?

[@Camcolito]

@@azurra1374 It's a bit of an inside joke. Dennis Irwin is an Irish ex-footballer renowned for his consistency and reliability. Roy Keane is his biggest fan and routinely cites "never injured" as one of his qualities. The comparison with Snyman is to take a shot at Munster fans because obviously he was always injured for them, but now for Leinster he's like Dennis Irwin :)

[@adrianincapetown7043]

How has rugby got to the point where home crowds react hysterically to tackles, which, for the most part, are nothing more than regular rugby incidents? This is often followed by players going down feigning injury, medics scrambling onto the field, simulating concussion checks, and the resulting, obligatory red card is then celebrated like a win. What is happening to our game?

[@Rugby-fan-007]

and you guys want red cards for the whole game second thoughts?.

[@adrianincapetown7043]

@Rugby-fan-007 Yeah, for dirty or violent play and not accidental rugby incidents. Keeping the rule simple makes it easier to referee and will stamp out this unfortunate trend of simulation.

[@alexsh4w]

@@adrianincapetown7043but it’s not as simple as classifying something as an “accidental rugby incident” as you make out. There is clearly going to be difference in opinion when doing that. It’s far too easy to say “keep the rule simple” while ignoring a massive complication.

[@gerhardcronje8915]

As a Bulls fan, I don't think the red card didn't cost us the game, but imho just shows the inconsistency in officiating it. Having said that, we seem to be a proper 40 min team at the moment. We really need to start playing the full 80 mins, a top team like Leinster will destroy us if we keep on playing like this

[@FrancoisSauer-ys3qc]

It is posible to kill the scrum,loosesrum and thus kill the match,hope we never have to play with these officials again,good piont no leaders on field,butchered Chances,though conditions was okay,opportunity missed.

[@brianodriscoll2725]

As a sharks fan ( I’m sure fellow sharks fans will agree) I will never have us as favourites for a competition until we’ve already damn won it haha We know how to snatch a loss from the jaws of victory like no one else. I remember being behind the posts for the 2007 super rugby final when habana scored that last minute try. My parents are Irish and support Munster and Ireland but moved to Durban when I was 5 so in am a sharks and bokke fan. When Ireland play a QF in the World Cup I see my parents accepting defeat before the game even starts and when the sharks play a knockout game I feel the same hahahaha

[@OscarOSullivan]

Looking forward to the match this week (we are shite we lose every week) is something Sharks and Munster have in common this season.

[@adrianincapetown7043]

Red cards should be reserved for dirty or violent violent play rather than rugby incidents, which is what the Grobelaar incident was.

[@kr1tical41]

Been super busy with my first ever job - working weekends has been tough but damn I love these recaps as someone who hasn’t got the time to watch the games 🤝🏻🤝🏻

[@angeloveli3709]

Diabolical. And I am not a ref complainer!!

[@zlatkozlatko3923]

3 weeks ago I told I'm waiting Benetton to wake up, and they did. 2 in a row, finally good news🎉

[@louisvanderberg7756]

As a Lions fan, I'll enjoy this week where we are mentioned in the same breath as Leinster, unbeaten and top of the log 😀 We will probably get smashed this weekend, but we are up there for the next few days at least

[@Lesedi26]

I'm not losing hope on us being top this time next week...

[@daithipol]

​​@@Lesedi26best to hope for is 2 pts behind with game in hand. But I'm hoping for a reversal of the beating the lions handed out to leinster in SA last season.

[@OscarOSullivan]

You smashed Leinster last season.

[@aonghus3860]

@@OscarOSullivan Leinster b/c team, albeit with a few thrown in from the first choice 23

[@aonghus3860]

Will be at the match. Have Lions sent their first choice team to Europe do you know? If so it could be a good match. Think Leinster will put out a strong team- would expect to see Doris, VDF, Henshaw, Lowe and hopefully big Joe coming back into the 23.

[@jj-do1je]

As Leinster fans we don’t even care about RG’s playing ability … the fact that it’s such a hard troll on Munster fans is the best part 😂😂😂

[@davidroseitg]

Honestly as a Munster fan I could not care less. Munster have been very average for years, that bothers me, not even at Leinsters ballpark to be a rival at the moment

[@brianodriscoll2725]

Munster and Ulster have no reason to feel hard done by the irfu tbh , they’re just badly run. Munsters foreign recruits used to be so good too, tipoki, howlett etc. Connacht definitely seem to be royally screwed by the irfu though tbh. Especially given their population disadvantage and lack of strong private schools.

[@davidroseitg]

@@brianodriscoll2725 I am not sure who brought up feeling hard done bye. Could the IRFU do more for Munster, well that's something the IRFU should always be thinking and I hope they do!

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

Yeah trolling is so mature. Sad cnut

[@splah01]

​@@davidroseitgthey're bankrolling both Munsters stadiums, irfu are doing plenty financially.

[@Natedawg38]

Was at the sportsgrounds and was just relieved leinster continued playing in the second half. Annoying wind. RG looks like hes been playing with leinster for a year, with jordie on the way theres nothing stopping another final showdown and with frawleys the new 10 id say theyll get their silverware this time.

[@donovanmostert6692]

One can argue that There is a difference between shoulder to the head and head to the shoulder.

[@burncarlow]

Tim you had me laughing out loud at the jacob stockdale blockhead comment and with the Snyman "its also quite funny". Great show, keep up the good work.

[@ElizeSwanepoel-ny2uy]

Another good one, thank you Tim

[@caleboshea2848]

Last two games for Ulster are showing more and more improvement and we are starting to see an identity with fast paced exciting rugby very exciting from an Ulster perspective hopefully we can keep these performances up.

[@mow3186]

Richie is the real deal. Hope things work out for him and Ulster, both deserve success.

[@BertVanZyl]

I disagree that the Bulls Red card didn't have an impact on the scoreline. But I agree thar Jake's selection has to include more leaders. Great chanel. Thank you for the good information.

[@lonwabiso1]

Love it, consistent officiating will be great, even with simple things like calling for scrumhalfs to use the ball. My favourite is putting of the ball into scrums...it just not right at the moment

[@conoromelia8435]

As a Leinster fan im delighted to see Leo Cullen taking the early season more seriously, i think the way he is blending youth with experience will pay dividends towards the end of the season. That being said, the real answer will come when the South African away games come around. Im hoping that he sends a stronger team down South and looks to walk away from the matches with as many points as possible, theres no point in dominating the table and then throwing away the home advantage becuase he wants to rest the big boys during the SA matches.

[@hankscorpion9939]

As a fellow Leinster fan, I'll be incredibly frustrated if we make the same mistake again with the SA games. Also happy with how it is going so far! Snyman well on his way to being one of our best signings.

[@aonghus3860]

The SA tour is right after the six nations so I don't see them sending the internationals down there

[@brianharvey9765]

Agree on the shoddy refereeing. But one has to also ask why the South African teams seem to have all of the bad luck with the referees.

[@mrseuugr]

They don’t. Glasgow get shafted week in week out, including against the Sharks. Probably be the same next week against the Stormers.

[@CarkCark-u9j]

@@mrseuugryou’re not watching the same rugby the rest of us are…

[@brianodriscoll2725]

I’m an Irish fan and sa are my least favourite team but I have to admit that some of the reffing has been shocking. The bulls Leinster game last year in Dublin the bulls were shafted. The bigger problem is the European cup though. Leinster La Rochelle and Toulouse the three best teams over the past 5 years have disregarded the rules. Leinster run blatantly illegal obstruction lines, La Rochelle cheat at rucks and Toulouse are extremely cynical at the ruck too.

[@Lattman460]

One incident that sticks out was the Champions Cup match against Harlequins which gave Sione a yellow for offside even though he was behind everyone else! Another was the loss against Ulster where Ulster won with an illegal try ​@@CarkCark-u9j

[@jamesbestbier1246]

World rugby doesn't like SA. Simple as that. The unconscious bias filters it's way down to the refs

[@jacquie212]

The bulls red might not have affected the result, but there was 5 min for the bulls to claw it back where they would have had 15 players . The reffing was atrocious across the board, the Munster - Stormers game has some howlers. Largely the games have been good despite the reffing, but sometimes they leave a bit of a sour taste

[@brendonschlebusch7954]

Always good to hear from you Tim. Just to comment on your take on the red card- You missed a rather large point... the inconsistencies. Earlier in the very same match (Bulls Scarlets) there was an identical incident, direct contact to the Bulls player's head; and only a penalty was awarded. That's the issue here. The inconsistencies from these refs. Mostly against the SA teams. Often away from home.

[@louisbruce1835]

Thanks for all you do for the sport we love, Tim🙏

[@Shendersonsports3003]

As an Edinburgh season ticket holder of 10 years, it's depressing to admit that the URC officials are better than they've ever been, despite so many inconsistencies. This league has always been plagued with poor decisions and it was beyond hard to watch back in the 2010's! Let's just say that I don't miss the likes of Clancy, Lacy, Fitzgibbon and many more. Having Nigel Owens ref your game often felt better than a win

[@Jan-p4y]

Thanks, Tim! Completely agree on your Bulls assessment! Bulls fan.

[@LDoran.]

That bulls red card was never red for me. Maybe a yellow but it was certainly not a red. Although that shouldn't take away the scarlets played well and the bulls didn't pull up their performance in that game

[@dandreehlers9817]

Identical tackle happened in the sharks game and it was a yellow...ref said the tackler was static...there was way more force in the glasgow tackle but it was yellow...if u look at this then grobelaar shouldve gotten just a pen or maybe yellow...but scarlets got away with 2 head contacts, 1 shoulder charge to wiese and tackling hanekom on the line from an offside position(which should be pen try)

[@TheBliksempie]

The red card definitely had an impact on the result. It influenced the Bulls defence and at the same time the Scarlets had free reign on how they defended and tackled. I saw three occasions where the Scarlet players tackled the same way and none of them were even refered, let alone penalized. It was a disgrace.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Under the current laws (whether you agree or disagree) it was a yellow card offence, meaning they would've been down to 14 for much of the time that was left in the match, including when Scarlets scored the winning try.

[@brendonschlebusch7954]

If Groberlaar's incident was a yellow. Then we need to ask why was it a penalty only for direct head contact by a Scarlet's player earlier in the game? The problem is the inconsistency. Not whether Johan deserved a red or a yellow. We all know that was never a red card offence.

[@nicholas8390]

​@@EggchasersRugbyThat is a fair comment, but the fact that the Scarlet's were allowed to make multiple tackles that looked worse and get away with it did ruin the game. The biggest issue was the referees inability to ref the scrums. It seems like the refs in the URC will always listen to the crowd, turning the games into football games

[@dandreehlers9817]

​@@EggchasersRugbybut scarlets made 2 head contacts(one just a penalty and one not even refered), shoulder charge which was ignored and an offside tackle on hanekom on the line which would have been a yellow and pen try

[@Clarkgravel]

One thing I’m looking forward to is posters giving up the “Leinster is an ersatz Ireland team“ moan and getting on the Sharks case!! 😊Will be a good excuse when teams get steamrollered by the Sharks when they discover/recover their mojo.

[@gerardfitzpatrick60]

Agreed regards ref standards, Evens + 💩house, Adamson, Frank Murphy are not good enough for u14’s on Sunday morning

[@ciaranbrk]

Frank Murphy in particular. Although the premiership has bad refs too Ben whitehouse is awful as a tmo and Luke Pierce gets a lot of credit but I don’t rate him.

[@OscarOSullivan]

Busby is pretty good but that Munster vs Leinster match with the 14 men on the pitch was a howler.

[@superbowljoel01]

As a bulls fan, the main concern is that they're a 40-minute team. This was the case last season, and it's continuing this season. That's why they're so vulnerable toward the end of games.

[@EggchasersRugby]

100%. Either fitness, mentality or squad depth. I think mostly the second 2 of those.

[@mikeyfoley2240]

An idea for the 20 minute red card would be to leave the red card as is and add a new card (black maybe like Gaa?) and have that card as the 20 minute card. Have yellow for low danger fouls Have black for synical or high danger fouls Have the full red for a synical and high danger foul

[@knoll9812]

My idea also but different colour as black sounds more serious Maybe amber

[@Bcharles1200]

Saw the dive in the zebre game Tim, and also groaned. Please let’s hope none of that starts in this sport

[@YOYOTh1s]

Sure, the Bull's red card did not change much, but the Zak Burger incident was very similar to the red card offence, which was JUST a penalty. The referee was getting the scrum completely wrong as well. He fell for the Scarlets not taking the hit or pulling out of the contest altogether! The officiating at the scrums was downright pathetic. The Bulls can rightfully feel aggrieved.

[@oldman774]

If the referees decided it is a red card, then so be it. Blaming the loss on the red card is moot. I have long given up complaining about red cards. That said, I think we need clarity on "high level of danger" I have seen similar tackles not red carded due to "passive tackling", so there is no consistency

[@dandreehlers9817]

Identical tackle happened in the sharks game and it was a yellow...ref said the tackler was static...there was way more force in the glasgow tackle but it was yellow...if u look at this then grobelaar shouldve gotten just a pen or maybe yellow...but scarlets got away with 2 head contacts, 1 shoulder charge to wiese and tackling hanekom on the line from an offside position(which should be pen try)

[@Forest9528]

Not even a yellow card never mind red Ref should be questioned and sacked

[@neilshrekpurves4521]

My opinion of the Bulls Scarletts game, firstly I am not a Bulls fan, nor am I a Scarletts fan, but well done Scarletts, a well deserved win 🎉, wrt to officiating, the sanctions need to be even handed, Burger copped a high shot that resulted in absolutely no card at all, what was the difference between the 2 tackles

[@dandreehlers9817]

Identical tackle happened in the sharks game and it was a yellow...ref said the tackler was static...there was way more force in the glasgow tackle but it was yellow...if u look at this then grobelaar shouldve gotten just a pen or maybe yellow...but scarlets got away with 2 head contacts, 1 shoulder charge to wiese and tackling hanekom on the line from an offside position(which should be pen try)

[@UmuziLodge-r2n]

Reffing all about CONTROL .... like in all walks of life.

[@Andrewmcfarlane-jz7lt]

Very interesting discussions thanks

[@JHPT-CPT]

Agree with the soccer type acting! Really dislike it. I think players should be warned for acting. Thanks for the channel and the clips are short enough to keep one entertained

[@user-vh5re5wp6e]

Love the URC

[@futureIsBrightYall]

I don't agree that the Red card had NO influence on the Bulls losing the game - it took the Scrum out the game which the Bulls dominated. Granted the Bulls played extremely poor, and I don't know how much the selections has to do with what Rassie expects from the Unions, but I agree the balance of the team was not right. With the European teams loaded with internationals, especially in Scotland and even more so in Ireland, it bodes well for the South African teams - being tested against proper internationals. This really helps with the development of players, see how the Lions are punching above their weight.

[@gavinberry1796]

IMHO inconsistent officiating is directly linked to overly complex laws!

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

Overly complex laws are providing an opportunity for refs to pick and choose what they want to blow ... but that choice is still theirs. Unless someone else is pulling those puppet strings ...

[@zeffairan7192]

I'm a Scarlets fan, and I will say that the red hard was harsh, should have been a yellow, i understand where the ref was coming from and with the specific rulings, at the end of the day the ref is the one making the decisions with the help of the rest of the ref team, and as angry as people will be (I know I can be with some decisions) we have to respect the ref and their decisions

[@juanpierrebosch]

Get your Egg on!! Thanks, Tim I always looking forward to your South African teams covering special Stormers !!

[@nevillecoleske6368]

You’re dead right, Bulls only got themselves to blame for that loss! Dominated the game but all the knock on’s, bad passes, overthrown lineouts, bad lineouts and even dropped a ball on a well formed maul! All the above in the red zone!!! Saying that, the game winning try was a 🍑👍🏻

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

When it becomes more frustrating to watch than entertaining, people stop watching. No one I know sits in morning traffic for fun, no matter how much they like their car or driving.

[@huntervanheerden5774]

SA Rugby Teams all the way.... All the games were good.

[@IrmaDavis-i9s]

Great review Tim ..Bulls have a problem with leadership and game management also is Jake White capable of getting angry at half time they simply don't play for 80 minutes😢

[@marssmit84]

I’ve seen RG Snyman try celebrations more dangerous than that tackle.

[@andredekock2933]

Referees should be reviewed and scored with a system. If you make a mistake it is human but constantly making errors should force them to go through training and officiating lower leagues with drop in income. It was not the red card that cost the Bulls. Twice they should have been awarded scrum penalties, calling use it and then giving Scarlets about another 7 seconds and not reviewing head contact to Wiese and Burger are ref errors thst cost the Bulls the win.The Bulls definitely need to start playing rugby in the second half. Jake White need to concentrate on that!

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

100% If a player gets red carded for a head high tackle, he has to go to "tackle school" or face a longer sanction. The ref who's red card was rescinded last week, was back out on the field this week with free reign to create more chaos, free of any consequences.

[@wallieveldtsman300]

Lions - 4 out of 4 !!

[@simonmorgan225]

Great result for the Scarlets showed great character to come back from behind, this is a game we would have lost last season (and last week).

[@jksinorbit]

Saffa here...good for the URC to see a Welsh team looking good ! It's great the competition development...we have to get Leinster down to the rest of our level though 😂

[@forwardpass2725]

Saffer fans love to complain that refs have it in for SA teams but that maybe it's just that the Bulls are ill-disciplined. The stats rankings for discipline in the URC (I think they average the positions for each category to get the ranking): 1. Edinburgh - YC 1, RC 0, Pen 29, Scrum 5, L/O 1 2. Lions - YC 2, RC 0, Pen 20, Scrum 5, L/O 1 3. Sharks - YC 2, RC 0, Pen 27, Scrum 6, L/O 0 4. Munster - YC 1, RC 0, Pen 33, Scrum 4, L/O 2 5. Stormers - YC 1, RC 0, Pen 33, Scrum 10, L/O 0 6. Glasgow - YC 2, RC 0, Pen 36, Scrum 5, L/O 1 7. Cardiff - YC 1, RC 0, Pen 38, Scrum 5, L/O 2 8. Ospreys - YC 0, RC 0, Pen 37, Scrum 13, L/O 1 9. Zebre - YC 1, RC 0, Pen 40, Scrum 20, L/O 1 10. Benetton - YC 4, RC 1, Pen 35, Scrum 6, L/O 0 11. Ulster - YC 2, RC 0, Pen 48, Scrum 12, L/O 1 12. Bulls - YC 4, RC 1, Pen 32, Scrum 7, L/O 6 13. Leinster - YC 2, RC 0, Pen 45, Scrum 13, L/O 2 14. Dragons - YC 2, RC 0, Pen 47, Scrum 11, L/O 4 15. Scarlets - YC 6, RC 0, Pen 43, Scrum 9, L/O 4 16. Connacht - YC 3, RC 1, Pen 38, Scrum 8, L/O 4

[@bradleypenrith]

That Bulls red card would of never happened if the ref had one look at the high tackle on Boeta 2 minutes before the red card. There was a clear bias from the TMO.

[@dandreehlers9817]

Identical tackle happened in the sharks game and it was a yellow...ref said the tackler was static...there was way more force in the glasgow tackle but it was yellow...if u look at this then grobelaar shouldve gotten just a pen or maybe yellow...but scarlets got away with 2 head contacts, 1 shoulder charge to wiese and tackling hanekom on the line from an offside position(which should be pen try)

[@jacquescoetzee47]

And then they penalised the Stormers for a “high tackle” that wasn’t even remotely high, which led to a Munster try and threatened the result. Watching this round was like watching different sports from game to game.

[@l8on17]

Wasn’t identical, was no head contact

[@johannhammann894]

The best solution will be to refer al "red card" incidents to the TV ref who can then decide if it is indeed a red card incident.

[@bojackhorsemanners]

Yellow card for Grobler would have been 100% fine but then there were multiple incidents where that threshold was met by Scarlet tacklers that did not even get a review from officiators. Like Tim said, the officiating in URC does need some work. Great weekend of rugby though

[@RikiLouw69]

I think that the card does make a difference in a 1-point game.

[@martinbritz5634]

What about the high tackle on Chamberlain.

[@mitakon21]

Remember the tournament isn't won in the first half of the competition...must build up, progress, and peak toward the end of the tournament😊

[@dawidmaree5002]

Wow my Lions!!!!!

[@philipdupreez3617]

0:00 you see Jaden hedrikse with the behind the back pass

[@gilliantaylor9675]

Wander what the stats for red cards against ratios hight difference of tacklers and tackled

[@quadswithmods]

I don't get if it's head contact and a card is dished out. Why is there no hia for the player who got hit ?

[@johnvanvuuren581]

Totally agree

[@mjdouglas9665]

Nahh tim, leinster going to choke again when the champions cup turns around. Write it down

[@ChrisBornman-tb4fe]

Yes, I agree yellow and not more. Time mabe we should ask BB before he retires to change the law to touch rugby.

[@JGraemeH]

It's hard understand why the red card was given. It was barely a penalty offense. Was it possibly given for the Oscar performance?

[@victorswart7411]

Bulls are targeted by weak refs giving in to crowd cards. Last week it was reversed this week another one by good ex Saffa actor playing ref to give in to the crowd. URC like WRugby is destroying the game. These issues must be dealt with in a court, world sport tribunal. SARU SHPULD HAVE DONE IT WITH RASSIEGATE.

[@paulphillips546]

Got to agree the officiating really needs to improve in URC. This has a big shout for the best league in the world but in order to be that the referees need to be top class and sadly this is not something you can say.

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

one thing you'll never hear a URC ref say with head contact. Accidental.

[@reyblais4858]

I think red is OK if that is going to be your standard but then by that standard at least one of the two tackles on the bulls players should’ve been yellow

[@timbrownblacksmithandknife5648]

I think the main problem is consistency. I think they need to look at how they officiate head contact.

[@ronanfurlong2708]

The officiating in the URC may not be great on average, but Tim, seriously, if you think it's any better in the premiership, then I'm afraid you're badly mistaken. Carley, Dickson etc get way waaaaaaay too much praise from pundits, and they are absolutely no better than the likes of Hollie Davidson, Nika Amushukeli, Andrew Brace, Eoghan Cross, Aimee Barrett-Theron, or Marius van der Westhuizen Everyone likes to rag on the URC referees, but ask any Leinster fan who they'd prefer as a ref, and they'll all plump for those on the list above, over ANY of the premiership refs ..... and I mean ANY of them

[@EggchasersRugby]

On the 2 Tests I watched against New Zealand I South Africa, Matthew Carley was noticeably much better than Andrew Brace. Luke Pearce is outstanding as well. Wayne Barnes was the best in the world for years. Not a huge fan of Karl Dickson, but English referees are very good. Watch the guy who officiated the Bristol V Saracens game yesterday...superb.

[@ronanfurlong2708]

@@EggchasersRugby Luke Pearce is good in fairness ..... Matthew Carley (like most URC refs that we like to give out about) makes some absolute howlers, and doesn't have a good way with players either. I know it's valid to question refs, and I know the URC refs have a bit of improving to do, but I'd just be afraid that the narrative will take hold about URC officials, because from my POV they're no better or worse than Prem referees Love the channel Tim .... keep up the great work 👍

[@john9508]

Inconsistency with cards are a damned nuisance. Have to agree the officiating in the URC is sometimes terrible.

[@brianmsahin]

Definitely should have been a yellow but as you say, yellow or red made no difference in the game. Hopefully it will be rescinded. Leinster are powering on.

[@kevinarenhold384]

I'd worry about Jamie Osborne defensively! Watch the game again and look how many times connacht got through his channel

[@b.d.erasmus6109]

Our Bulls weren't good on the night... and the red card is definitely not the reason for the loss, but there was some shocking calls by the ref and some shocking calls not made.. Does take the shine of a good Scarletts win..

[@louistrichardt7543]

No red card. What should he have done...run away!!

[@MrChrispy79]

In the first game, Scarlets should have received a red in 1st half for a head high, no arms shoulder charge on Wiese, and just before the red to the bulls, the bulls no.10 almost got decapitated, but that was not even looked at? Then you got the softest incident of the 3 red carded... I think there were a few examples in that specific game to show that there were absolutely no consistency. Perhaps time for refs who gets it wrong to go to some sort of "ref school" - Almost like the "tackle school" for high tacklers? Where they can focus on their shortcomings? Might be worth a try? It just feels like one week after the other, game after game, things are adjudicated completely differently.

[@neelssmit3816]

Ireland teams want to score tries in this competítion !

[@richardfincham7744]

URC needs to spend money on trainning and breeding the best refs in the world. It's in all our interests. The officiating is diabolical at the moment.

[@RoddyPaul]

breeding?!?

[@oraclis4892]

I have no issues with referees getting things wrong in the heat of the moment. My issue is how many times the TMO screws up. They have time, multiple angles and slow-mo. But still mess things up

[@houndofzoltan]

Dives? In rugby? That should be a red card right there to make sure it doesn't become a thing.

[@neelssmit3816]

South African teams must score more points in the second half !

[@geoffhogan4831]

Leinster will only be tested when they tour SA. Doubtful too that they will send a 1st team squad to SA.

[@conormarren]

where red has mitigation, reduce it to an orange card of 20 minutes

[@terryg1829]

Ref are sub par. However another big issue is TMO interventions due to Oscar winning performances by players. Its becoming is a plague on the game. Players constantly harrassing refs to go upstairs is frustrating. Staying down only to spring up once a decision has been made. Accidental collisions are not malicious and therfore not red card worthy. We as fans are also becoming the problem. Wishing for someone to be sent off for a split second moments of inaccuracies. Lastly local TV producers stoking the fires with slow motion replays.

[@nickrandall2692]

4:29 surely it’s as simple as saying if a player has to go off for an HIA it’s a red card? If not it’s a lesser offence? Second week in a row where the tackled player carries on playing after a “red card offence with no mitigation” tackle.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Take your point but disagree. Accidents happen and you can't and shouldn't legislate when they do.

[@nickrandall2692]

@@EggchasersRugby completely fair - but then perhaps the reverse should be true? If a tackler is sent off for a high shot, then shouldn’t the tackled player be sent off for a precautionary HIA? It all just feels both rigid in the guidelines the referees have to fall, while still seemingly up to the refs interpretation - it’s baffling…

[@jamesbond8191]

Egg … come now mate…not only was the Bulls red card diabolical, the reffing was biased against them. How many times did the Scarlets scrum move backwards but not penalised…they tackled illegally and no penalty…your assessment on this is very unfair. Call a spade a spade mate… !

[@EggchasersRugby]

Even irrelevant of that (I would blame incompetence before a conspiracy every time) Bulls had more than enough chances to win, and should have done...I'm certain they will look at their own failings before they blame the ref.

[@jamesbond8191]

@@EggchasersRugby … if this was an isolated case I would readily agree…but I notice that your NH refs officiating is terrible against SA opposition. It is like they are afraid of the local crowds..the Bulls, Lions, Stormers and Sharks are bing very badly treated …and they are all dominant at scrum time without reward. I would agree the Bulls did not have the best game and their 2nd string team did not play well, but then they had to play against the Ref as well as the crowd.

[@davidroseitg]

The refereeing puts me off watching more of the games! its so important

[@stephenljbyrne]

RG was magnificent and overall a good performance by Leinster

[@jacqloock]

Red card for Stockdale on that picture alone, were he Safrican of course

[@shaunsmart9432]

Yes, but if it was yellow, the bulls would make a gome back to win that game.

[@CarkCark-u9j]

No they still would have lost. Scarlets won in the first ten minutes after the Red. Bulls imploded fr second week in a row. Can’t play last 20mins

[@dadbaby4191]

Lions my tjom😊

[@alexmunro8231]

How is it that you dominate the scrums and get no reward from it.

[@DomanaxTV]

The Bulls game was reffed and TMO'ed so badly against the Bulls. When TV replays show foul play against the Bulls and nothing is checked, but then done multiple times for the Scarlets I just cannot be bothered to watch. No doubt the Bulls missed opportunities but it's becoming extremely hard to watch URC rugby with the level of refereeing.

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

That is the spin off ... people just stop watching eventually, and it's already starting to happen. URC are NOT taking note of all the complaints on social media about the issue ... soon those will decrease - because people have just given up and switched off - and those in charge of the URC will sit back and stew in the shitstorm they've created, will less complains, but less viewership ... and then they will spend a fortune on think tanks and fan engagement to try figure out why their viewership numbers are are decreasing.

[@greenplasticgun]

Bulls played shockingly. No excuses. Ref didn't rob them. They need to do better. However... For Grobbelaar to get a Red for that, and then in later matches we see players given yellow for arguably more dangerous tackles, it's just bad. Bad bad bad. Solution....easy. Very easy. Scrap ALL cards for accidental infringements. Upright tackle, player gets his technique wrong, incidental head contact....penalty. Player competes for the ball in the air, is slightly beaten to the ball but makes contact in the air....penalty. Player goes for intercept and knocks on by mistake.....penalty. Save cards for intentional dangerous or cynical play. From the RC I can only think of one time I'd have wanted to see a card given, and it was called as red and that was I think Matera's dumb shoulder charge into I think Mr Incredible who was on the ground at the time. He lined him up, went in with a shoulder and made head contact. Red card. Easy. A player punches another in the face. Red card. A player eye gauges. Red card. Clothes line tackle to the neck. Yellow/Red card. Player is well beaten into the air and just barges into the airborne players legs, flipping him. Yellow/Red card. Almost everything else, penalty. But to be giving red cards for what Goosen did, and then giving a yellow for something that looked worse that same weekend.....I'm not the "games gone soft" type, but if WR can't be trusted to be consistent between two tackles that look exactly the same then the power must be taken away from them.