Another ref bites the dust
First Paul Marks and Pro Legoete were stood down as on-field referees in the Super 14 for performances regarded as inadequate. Now Garratt Williamson, a referee who was performing as an assistant referee, has also been stood down, as was Josh Noonan earlier in the Super 14.
Williamson was the assistant referee in the match between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes, when the Crusaders took a quick throw-in outside of the laws and scored a try in their way to drawing with the Hurricanes. (See https://rugby365.com/tournaments/super14/news/2340650.htm)
These actions against referees are consonant with the SANZAR referees’ policy of acting publicly against what is perceived to be inadequate performance by match officials. The action is not new; going public with it is new, and appears to be more rigorous than action against player error.
Williamson did not act against a quick throw-in by Crusaders scrumhalf Andy Ellis in the first half even though the Hurricanes reserve players and Conrad Smith had touched the ball before Ellis threw it in. The quick throw-in resulted in a try by Zac Guildford. Williamson, who recently refereed just his second Super 14 match, has been taken off assistant referee duties and sent “upstairs” to become a television match official.
The same happened to Josh Noonan when his touch-line decision “cost” the Highlanders a try against the Blues. He was taken to task and off the line to be a TMO.
Williamson will not be an assistant referee when the Crusaders play the Waratahs on Saturday, but a TMO.
SANZAR’s referee boss, Lyndon Bray said: “We’ve agreed with Garratt this morning just to stand him down from the touchline this week,
“Our general premise for that was to be entirely consistent and fair to the other guys we’ve stood down as this was in the same ballpark as the other decisions we’ve taken action on.
“Garratt fully understands the decision and accepts it. It doesn’t change the fact that he’s refereed with great potential in the competition and he will get another game in the middle before the end of the competition. He deserves that opportunity.
“This is just reflective of the accountability on this particular decision in that match.”
Bray was confident the move would be seen as a strong enough response by the Hurricanes.
“They are not out for blood, so to speak. They are just out to see the referees and assistants are, in the same way as players and coaches are, accountable for isolated decisions. In this case I think Colin Cooper and the Hurricanes have had that accountability.”
The Hurricanes also questioned the awarding of the try to Crusaders hooker Ti’i Paulo in stoppage time, but Bray has backed referee Jonathan Kaplan’s decision.
