I think it's a bit too late this season, and a new method of deciding refs needs to be discussed and adapted, which won't be a quick thing. The end of season is the best time for that.

You don't change woefully inept horses in mid stream

ummm, wrote:

sea_point wrote: Eric and the Branch are sort of hamstrung really and can't openly complain too much, but the media can point out the inequalities.

I think they can do a lot about it. Not by complaining in the media, but surely there must be end of season reviews by the Pro12 which would include meeting with teams and seeing what can be improved.

The Pro12 moved to a revamped disciplinary process a few years ago, which could only have happened after such a review. Th CB need to get the IRFU on board and get their weight behind this as well.

Not sure, but end of season is too late to be honest. Pro12 should be called to answer during the prevailing season. A few bad ref games can completely undermine our whole season as we saw when we went on that record losing streak this season.

sea_point wrote: Eric and the Branch are sort of hamstrung really and can't openly complain too much, but the media can point out the inequalities.

I think they can do a lot about it. Not by complaining in the media, but surely there must be end of season reviews by the Pro12 which would include meeting with teams and seeing what can be improved.

The Pro12 moved to a revamped disciplinary process a few years ago, which could only have happened after such a review. Th CB need to get the IRFU on board and get their weight behind this as well.

ummm, wrote: I have his mail address as it happens

And may I add fair dues for keeping the stats all season

I have his mail address as it happens

sea_point wrote:

ummm, wrote: Well I'm chuffed to bits that this is getting some airplay, this info needs to be seen by a wider audience, not just the Clan. My main aim for this topic wasn't to give the fans something to moan about, that's not attractive in a fan (although sometimes necessary), my intention was to collate the stats so the branch have the opportunity to fix this imbalance.


I would hope that Eric isn't resigned to this situation, and I hope the branch as a whole aren't resigned to it. Ulster had a similar situation a few years back and complained, they're now 4 off the top and 12 away from the bottom. Complaining gets you places.


Now just sit back and watch as the Pro12 give us Nigel Owens for out last three games just to spite me and cook the books a little

Eric and the Branch are sort of hamstrung really and can't openly complain too much, but the media can point out the inequalities. There is an impact relating to these appointments, Fridays for example nearly cost us the game as the ref crumbled in the second half and the penalty count ramped up against us.

Up to Friday night we were well out in front on the Pro 12 discipline table front, the two second half yellows have allowed Cardiff to catch up now. One wonders though if we had the senior refs more often this season where we would be on the discipline table. My feeling is that we probably get less unfavourable handling from the more senior refs. Whereas the lower profile ones probably make more basic errors, the senior ones believe by virtue of our league positions that we are 9/10 times the offender in any situation and ride us througout the game accordingly.

But might be worth flagging it to the Journo's who tend to report on us (the likes of Linley Mackenzie (IT & Galway Ad), John Fallon (Indo) and Johnny Waterston (IT) and of course Mr Connacht Rugby - Rob Murphy (Knockon.ie/GBFM/Connacht Tribune, there's a list of all the local and national media Rugby correspondents contact details on the Offy Site...

www.connachtrugby.ie/2006092572/media-contacts

Manus Lappin the chap who produces Emerald Rugby magazine would I'm sure welcome an article with open arms via <strong>editor_at_emeraldrugby.com</strong>.

Gerry Thornley weekly Tuesday column sounds ideal. A lot of rugby heads I know purposefully buy the IT on Tuesday just because of it. There would be no point sending on the info in summer, in my opinion, when season is over as the focus switches to international almost immediately.

He usually leaves the e-mail at end of article but I left it behind yesterday.

Good ideas, and I'll probably tweet Manus at the end of the season when all the stats are in.

Don't want to jump the gun, just yet. But the chances of things changing much with three games left are pretty slim. I think makes sense to write about this as part of an end of season review

You can tweet him also @EmeraldRugby

It's a good idea, to get this story out there. Cant do any harm

ummm, wrote: Well I'm chuffed to bits that this is getting some airplay, this info needs to be seen by a wider audience, not just the Clan. My main aim for this topic wasn't to give the fans something to moan about, that's not attractive in a fan (although sometimes necessary), my intention was to collate the stats so the branch have the opportunity to fix this imbalance.


I would hope that Eric isn't resigned to this situation, and I hope the branch as a whole aren't resigned to it. Ulster had a similar situation a few years back and complained, they're now 4 off the top and 12 away from the bottom. Complaining gets you places.


Now just sit back and watch as the Pro12 give us Nigel Owens for out last three games just to spite me and cook the books a little

Eric and the Branch are sort of hamstrung really and can't openly complain too much, but the media can point out the inequalities. There is an impact relating to these appointments, Fridays for example nearly cost us the game as the ref crumbled in the second half and the penalty count ramped up against us.

Up to Friday night we were well out in front on the Pro 12 discipline table front, the two second half yellows have allowed Cardiff to catch up now. One wonders though if we had the senior refs more often this season where we would be on the discipline table. My feeling is that we probably get more unfavourable handling from the more senior refs. Whereas the lower profile ones probably make more basic errors, the senior ones believe by virtue of our league positions that we are 9/10 times the offender in any situation and ride us througout the game accordingly.

But might be worth flagging it to the Journo's who tend to report on us (the likes of Linley Mackenzie (IT & Galway Ad), John Fallon (Indo) and Johnny Waterston (IT) and of course Mr Connacht Rugby - Rob Murphy (Knockon.ie/GBFM/Connacht Tribune, there's a list of all the local and national media Rugby correspondents contact details on the Offy Site...

www.connachtrugby.ie/2006092572/media-contacts

Manus Lappin the chap who produces Emerald Rugby magazine would I'm sure welcome an article with open arms via editor_at_emeraldrugby.com

Just realised this.

When we played the Scarlets in round 2 we had a rookie ref. If that ref had been selected every week to ref in the Pro12 he would, by now, have a higher level of experience than our average.

Incidentally, in round two against the Scarlets we obviously had the least experienced ref. When we played the Scarlets three weeks ago we had the least experienced ref again. It was the same ref.

Well I'm chuffed to bits that this is getting some airplay, this info needs to be seen by a wider audience, not just the Clan. My main aim for this topic wasn't to give the fans something to moan about, that's not attractive in a fan (although sometimes necessary), my intention was to collate the stats so the branch have the opportunity to fix this imbalance.


I would hope that Eric isn't resigned to this situation, and I hope the branch as a whole aren't resigned to it. Ulster had a similar situation a few years back and complained, they're now 4 off the top and 12 away from the bottom. Complaining gets you places.


Now just sit back and watch as the Pro12 give us Nigel Owens for out last three games just to spite me and cook the books a little

ummm, seriously this is getting to be a bit of a joke! the rest of the posters on this site are going to have to start bill-board ads and airplane banners to get their threads advertised as much as this one. Your Murdoch like control of the media is becoming a little scary now to be honest.

www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv/index/index/id/11008 (*edit - sorry its not a direct link but it should be on that page 'Elwood: Away Win Shows Positive Signs')

Rob mentions this very thread to Elwood in this interview on the IRFU site about a minute in, EE acknowledges that it's us and the Dragons who usually get the short end of the straw when it comes to refs. Seems just resigned to it at this stage but mentioned that it was something that was worked on in the week with the players with an emphasis on playing positive rugby to get the 50/50 decisions.

I missed the start of the game. Great to hear they're making this known.

Hope the branch make it known to the pro12 though, it's worthless otherwise.

Good man ummm, after getting a good mention on Galway Bay FM with this thread

well done. got a mention on galway bay fm for this stats. well done

That's standard, the home union always provides the assistant refs, and the TMO if there is one. It reduces costs.