That man Wayne Barnes
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@Nepia said in That man Wayne Barnes:
Well, I didn't actually want this thread to turn into a pile on, but I guess that can't be helped when it comes to Barnes.
Yeah, he is actually a much MUCH better ref now than in 2007. He's never my favourite, mainly because he seems to lose his whistle around the tackle and ruck in the 2nd half of matches, then comes out with some arcane law at a crucial moment, but he has improved a good bit.
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Yeah with Barnes I think the pace of the really high quality test matches is too much for him and therefore over the course of 80 minutes he ends up having a tendency to make the wrong call numerous times. He also has zero idea about forward passes (see 07 RWC, 15 RWC final, ABs v Wales above etc).
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I like him the same way I liked Joubert - while they make the odd mistake, their general intention is always to let the game flow.
I'd much rather a ref be a bit too lenient and let things fly, rather than one who blows his whistle at every opportunity. I think Angus Gardner and Glen Jackson are similar to this - while you don't always agree with them they generally produce games which are good to watch.
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@barbarian said in That man Wayne Barnes:
I like him the same way I liked Joubert - while they make the odd mistake, their general intention is always to let the game flow.
I'd much rather a ref be a bit too lenient and let things fly, rather than one who blows his whistle at every opportunity. I think Angus Gardner and Glen Jackson are similar to this - while you don't always agree with them they generally produce games which are good to watch.
There's always one or two 'WTF' moments with him though, calls that are just weird.
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@Billy-Tell said in That man Wayne Barnes:
Yeah, he is actually a much MUCH better ref now than in 2007.
Agreed. Predominately because now, unlike then, he is involved in the game.
My only criticism of Barnes these days, apart from that baffling All Blacks vs Welsh forward pass call, is that he seems overwhelmed with what is happening at the tackle/ ruck, rather than letting things play. I'm no advocating he becomes overly officious, but it doesn't seem like he's judging on the material impact of the players' actions.
He does communicate well.
I thought Pascal Gaüzère was very good in the Blues vs Lions game too.
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Barnes is a miles better ref then he was in 2007. Prone to a the odd clanger, as most refs are TBH, and sometimes comes across as a bit of a dick on the field but I don't really have a problem with him these days, he's definitely one of the better refs going around overall.
It's a shame he is only remembered for the 2007 game, he was way out of his depth there and it is Paddy O'Brien that should be copping it most heavily for that. He was overawed by the occasion and bottled it in the second half and swallowed his whistle. He had no chance of picking up the forward pass given that was from a break out so not sure why that is always the focus.
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A couple of WC championships takes the sting out. Years after Barnes retires I suspect he will be popular/liked by many Kiwis for better-or-worse he is basically a national cult figure, he'll make a few dollars on the dinner circuit.
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@No-Quarter said in That man Wayne Barnes:
It's a shame he is only remembered for the 2007 game
There are two videos posted in the thread - neither of which are from 2007. The legend of Barnes has grown from 2007 because of things like that and the Hartley red card in the premiership final etc etc.
His refereeing is infuriating at times - but his touch judge work is far worse. He is liable every game to run in make sure he gets a bit of mic time instructing the man with the whistle how to ref the game. You never leave a game where Barnes runs the touch line without knowing he is there.
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@Salacious-Crumb said in That man Wayne Barnes:
A couple of WC championships takes the sting out. Years after Barnes retires I suspect he will be popular/liked by many Kiwis for better-or-worse he is basically a national cult figure, he'll make a few dollars on the dinner circuit.
If he shows a bit of self reflection about the whole thing and/or develops a sense of humour and personality you may well be right.
If not, I wish you good luck promoting a sportsman dinner with Trevor Chappell, Dennis Connor & Wayne Barnes. Sounds like a great night out full of laughs, stories and wit.
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@No-Quarter I distinctly remember at that game just as the pass was delivered glancing at Barnes and he brought the whistle towards his mouth. He definitely made a decision
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fark who cares, whats done is done...there has been plenty of speculation and chat around that pass, whether he was advised by his AR or he saw it, it's done, we have won since then, so we should just go back to ignoring that RWC!
I think when he is on, he is one of the better refs going around, but he does come across as a bit of an arrogant piston wristed gibbon at times too.
Also wonder if he would be the same ref today if not for the scrutiny he received form that game?
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Not sure Barnes is that much better than in 2007. That France v Wales match in the 6 Nations this year lasted 100 minutes because - though possibly legally correct - he was afraid to award the French a penalty try despite repeated Welsh scrum infringements. It was a shambles.
