So That's the End Then

I didn't get to watch the match live, but through highlights, replays and re-runs (the glory of the internet) I have seen around thirty five minutes of play.

Luckily, I wasn't subjected to the commentary from either the English commentators, or the kiwis.  They were Italian mostly, and as the only Italian I know is 'pizza,' I'm free from bias in that respect.

Of course it doesn't take away the natural bias from years of life, but that's another matter.

Richie Mc caw, the great kiwi hope, should have been red carded.  Sam Warburton dropped a man on his head.  'Richie,' kneed him in the face when he was on the ground and defenceless.  He should be cited and banned for at least 8 weeks (subject to good behaviour) for an attack on the frenchman.  A punch and knee to the head (face, really) left the frenchman unable to stay on the pitch, with what must have been an almighty headache.  But I suppose a few decisions will go the way of the home nation.  That's life.

Then the kiwis were off-side at every ruck, basically being inches away from the french backs, before they even got the ball.  When the french did the same, they were penalised.  But hey, a few decisions will go the way of the home nation, that's life.

The kiwis were off their feet at every ruck.  They got penalised once or twice, but only when they were in their own half, or at the extremities of the pitch.  The french were penalised countless times for the same infringement, right in front of the post.  But hey, a lot of decisions will go the way of the home nation, that's life.  (And as a side-note, I haven't yet seen a ruck where the kiwis entered through the gate, choosing to just pile-drive the sides.)

The referee stopped play for two NZ injuries.  The referee did not stop play for the Parra injury, and indeed penalised the french for an injury just before a lineout.  But hey, every decision will go the way of the home nation, that's life.

The kiwis produced dozens of illegal tackles, some were high and blatant beyond belief, but the referee chose to ignore them (because you know, it's New Zealand, they're allowed to do that kind of thing).  But hey, every single possible factor that might help New Zealand will be exploited, that's life.

It's interesting to note how few people are saying this was a good world cup.  Usually, after an event of this magnitude, people holler to the rooftops about the 'greatness,' of specific sporting events.  Every Olympics is the best one ever, we wait a few years for the proverbial dust to settle, and we look back and think well actually, maybe not.

In this case a minority of people are doing the hollering, while the majority are simply saying 'meh.'

Refereeing caused a storm of controversy throughout.  England were penalised at every possible situation, just because they're England and they're all bastards.  New Zealand were not penalised at every single opportunity, because they're New Zealand and they damn well paid to win this world cup.  (I mean that in terms of them paying the referee, because it is impossible for him to be 'unbiased,' and yet ref that badly; and in terms of paying for the tournament.)  Every day, new revelations about cyclists cheating, cricketers throwing games and footy players fixing betting come to light.  You'd have to be morose to assume that kind of thing never happens in rugby.  When an official gets everything so horribly wrong (with a track-record of only being slightly wrong, which is the best a ref in rugby can hope to achieve) you have to assume foul play (see what I did there?).

The Welsh were hard done by - their captain stupidly (and illegally) attempted a spear tackle, thought better of it, then dropped a man on his head.  They were hard done by because the player is a moron, not because of the refereeing decision.  He got it spot on, that there ref.  Why wasn't he officiating the final?

So this tournament then - disappointing for fans of England, of course.  Disappointing for the fans of France, as they should be hoisting the trophy in Paris.  Disappointing for rugby fans, because they won't be able to shake that unnerving feeling that somewhere in the shadows, a syndicate just made a healthy profit off that game.

But, great for non-rugby fans, as it was an incredibly tense match.  Then again, seeing as rugby playing numbers are starting to fall in the developed nations, there were no non-fans watching.  With referees dedicated to spoiling matches as of late, I doubt there will be many converts this year.

IRB priority number one: fix the refereeing.  How?  I don't know, but I'm not a lord or earl, and I'm not paid hundreds of thousands to do that job.

If you want to hire me for that purpose, my e-mail address is on the right.  You know where to contact me.