Refs' interim Currie Cup report

At the half-way mark in the Currie Cup, André Watson, South Africa's referees boss, has sent out an interim report to his referees on their Currie Cup performances.

This interim report, which was sent to all panel referees and Currie Cup coaches, is in general terms as each referee receives a detailed written report on each one of his matches.

In general Watson professes himself happy though, as always, there is room for improvement - which sounds schoolmasterly. He also states that the "clients" are happy.

Watson says: "A special word of thanks to the referees that performed in the Currie Cup during round one. The feedback from the clients (teams) is mostly positive. Thanks to the Team coaches who accepted some new boys on the block during round 1. The young Turks impressed in the absence of our four International referees whilst the latter were on International duties."

Watson then comments on performance in some areas of refereeing:

“Big 5”

These are facets of the game that the referees are to concentrate on in the interests of a faster, fairer game - the role of the tackler, offside at kicks, obstruction, scrum and short offside (e.g. pillars at tackle/ruck).

1. General effort from referees towards the Big 5 is evident in most fixtures. Renewed efforts must continue with no easing off on the five areas identified of the game.

2. Player behaviour is changing because of the efforts from referees.

3. Scrum cadence is much better controlled and referees must continue to “be the boss”. The importance of a clear pause (take a breath!) between the “pause” and “engage” calls needs to be upheld to ensure simultaneous engagement.

4. Touching when called to do so, and binding by all four props on engagement is paramount and referees must insist that this happens. Binding by any prop on the chest of his opposition prop must be penalised. They must bind on the side or back of their opponent as per Law.

5. Referees are becoming slack in the tackle area almost to the extent of back to 2009 application! Please review your pictures of this phase. Rethink and apply with the required adjustments to comply with the agreed standards set at the start of the season. Review your pictures of "tackler assist" at a tackle (Law 15.6 (c)). Accuracy at the breakdown is of high importance.

[Law 15.6 (c) Players in opposition to the ball carrier who remain on their feet who bring the ball carrier to ground so that the player is tackled must release the ball and the ball carrier. Those players may then play the ball providing they are on their feet and do so from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled player or a tackler closest to those players’ goal line.
Sanction: Penalty kick]

6. Much improved is the obstruction application with a big change in player behaviour. Keep the standards up.

7. The biggest change and compliance is with offside players at kicks. Remember to call “STOP” at kicks, because that is what you want the players to do who are in front of the kicker. Follow it up with action and penalty if they don't stop immediately. Please do this early in the game with no “rabbits” (surprise penalty) at a late stage in the match.

Tackle - “Sealing off”

1. The tacklers are responding reasonably but we are still not close to changing behaviour to acceptable levels. Keep working on the tackler relentlessly. This ensures quick ball which is exactly what players and coaches want.

2. “Sealing off” happens when an arriving player at the breakdown voluntarily goes to ground or on to team mates to either win possession or to cause an obstruction with his body to secure possession.

3. This action is seldom penalised when attacking players are doing it but defenders are regularly and correctly penalised for the same infringement.

4. Please referee both teams at the breakdown as the laws are the same for both teams. Do not remain focused on the defenders only at the breakdown. 

5. Should an attacking player make contact with opposition players on his feet in a clean out at the breakdown, and he then ends up on the ground, because the impact caused them to collapse, he did not voluntarily go to ground and must not be penalised. However he must roll away to make the ball available to players on their feet.

6. When a “pick & drive” occurs support players on the ball-carrier must roll away when their drive is brought to ground.
 
7. Remain focused on the tackler it remains the main problem. Please add as a priority to your tackle picture the arriving players sealing off.