It Hurts To Say This, But, I Fear Nigel Has Lost It

THE JOURNEY, across what are now referred to as: “The Rutshire Chronicles” from cad and bounder to all-round good guy, of Jilly Cooper's wonderful invention, show jumper turned politician Rupert Campbell-Black,  has in reality, little to do with actual sport. However, Jilly did give him one very true line, when he discusses the pain involved in actually giving-up competing, and the timing thereof.

Jackie Stewart - he got it right in 1973

It is a sporting truism that very few ever get it right – that moment when it is time to hang-up the boots and join the real world. Years ago, Danny Blanchflower almost did it, when he turned his back on Tottenham's “Glory, Glory Years.” The decision to stop may have been forced on him by the death of his young French team mate Francois Severt, but oor ain Sir Jackie Stewart retired at the top, as World Champion. That great Scottish footballer George Young declared he would retire after leading Scotland against Spain in Madrid, only to have his dream ending denied by a jealous pack of selectors – who didn't pick him for the game, while, just this month, Manchester City's Vincent Kompany went out at the top, after leading City to the first domestic treble in the 140-years plus of English football.

But, these guys, who got it right, or mostly right, are in a very small minority – most sportsmen, so love the adrenaline rush of competing – they hang around too long and, in some cases tarnish a glorious reputation.

On last night's evidence - Nigel has maybe over-stayed his welcome

I fear perhaps Nigel Owens, arguably Rugby Union's finest referee, has over-stayed his time in the middle, if his error-strewn display in last night's Guinness PRO14 Final, is any example. How sad, with him, of all officials in charge, the big talking point from last night's show piece was the officiating.

Now, I am not going to say Nigel's mistakes, in particular his failure to show Leinster's Rob Kearney a straight red card for his dangerous aerial take-out of Stuart Hogg was the reason Glasgow Warriors lost. The Irish side won, and won well, but, on the night, Nigel made more mistakes than we have come to expect of him, and, not for the first time this season, the feeling has been abroad in the wake of a match he has controlled: “Nigel's lost it.”

I accept, Rugby Union is just about the most-difficult team game to referee. The laws are so-complex, there is so-much happening at every breakdown, at times it is, I feel, beyond the capabilities of a single person to get control right. And that is before you even consider the minefield that is the scrum in a professional game, or the endemic if not “cheating”, then seeking to gain an unfair advantage by pushing the boundaries, which is such a part of the professional game.

However, there appears to be an acceptance by referees, and last night Nigel fell into this trap, of giving what is considered the stronger scrum, the benefit of the doubt when things go awry. So, just because Leinster's Tadhg Furlong is considered the best tight-head in the world, when that side of the scrum goes down, it must be the fault of opponent Jamie Bhatti. A couple of times last night, Nigel let-down Bhatti with this stance; an error he compounded by similarly under-rating Zander Fagerson's work on the other side of the scrum.

So, Nigel had another off night. I fear, unless England is involved, on his current form, Wayne Barnes and not Nigel will have charge of the Rugby World Cup Final later this year. Sadly, I feel the magic may have deserted the most-famous resident of the village of Mynyddcerrig.

Last night's game was also the swan song of Assistant Referee John Lacey, who, needless to say, because he was in Scotland, made his mandatory stupid intervention, with one scrum penalty against Glasgow, notifying Nigel from fully 40 metres away of what he thought was an offence by Glasgow. But, getting things wrong is what Lacey has always done when in Scotland.

 Goodbye John Lacey, don't let the door hit your arse as you leave

Nigel is going to the World Cup, but, I just wonder if, perhaps Rugby Union can learn from Football. In the Beautiful Game, the world governing body FIFA, prior to 2016, insisted their top-ranked FIFA grade referees had to come off that international list at aged 46, but were allowed to referee domestic games after that. Today, that upper age limit has been removed, however, the over-45s are required to undergo additional testing and assessment to be allowed to carry-on past that age.

Any way, kudos to Leinster, who took advantage of Glasgow's mistakes, got in front and did what they have always done well, strangled the game and controlled it. The two Scottish teams are still playing catch-up when it comes to learning how to use rugby's quaint laws to advantage to win tight games. But, some day, we will get there.

Watching Leinster go through their repertoire of endless one-pass pick-and-go moves, through teens of phases did not make for an entertaining game, but, for so-long as the lawmakers allow them to do this, sides such as Leinster and England's Exeter will play this way.

Perhaps it is time for Rugby Union to mimic Rugby League, by artificially limiting the number of phases a team is allowed to go through when in possession. League set its limit at six phases of play, before possession had to be surrendered. How about Union, initially going with ten phases before possession is lost? It might make for a more-entertaining game. Just a thought.

Any way, that is, in Scotland at least, season 2018-19 done and dusted. We still have the English play-off to enjoy, courtesy of BT Sport, the finale to the French season, and Super Rugby – then the players come back from their all-too-short holiday to prepare for the World Cup. But, by then we will be back on the club treadmill.

Rugby is now an all-year-round sport.