• Please bear with us. We have moved to a new provider, and some images and icons are not working correctly. We are working hard to fix this

Andrea Piardi

Dickie E


Referees in Australia
Andrea was the man in the middle for Ireland v Aust. I thought he looked somewhat out of his depth with poor decisions favouring both teams.
If there is such a thing as a diversity hire, I wonder if its him
 
Andrea was the man in the middle for Ireland v Aust. I thought he looked somewhat out of his depth with poor decisions favouring both teams.
If there is such a thing as a diversity hire, I wonder if its him
Not seen the match, but anything in particular that makes you think he was engaged for anything other than ability and maybe just had a bad day?

He’s covered some other ”big” matches in the 6N and URC (NZ vs ARG in August) but this is the first I’ve heard his name mentioned negatively on this forum.
 
Andrea was the man in the middle for Ireland v Aust. I thought he looked somewhat out of his depth with poor decisions favouring both teams.
If there is such a thing as a diversity hire, I wonder if its him
I think that is a little inappropriate Dickie. He is a decent ref.
 
You might disagree with me but why inappropriate? Is it taboo to suggest WR might appoint referees from fledgling countries who are B panel?
 
You might disagree with me but why inappropriate? Is it taboo to suggest WR might appoint referees from fledgling countries who are B panel?
Referees fitting that profile generally get low importance matches involving at least Tier B team...
 
So a ref from a fledgling rugby country has a bad match is a diversity hire?

Does that make a ref from a tier 1 nation having a bad match an example of the old boys club at work protecting their own?

Ultimately we can only gauge how a ref will handle a new level of officiating by getting them in the mix; first as AR and then in the middle.

Maybe we need to a repeated pattern of sub-par performances by a ref who keeps getting assigned to top level matches before throwing around these terms and raising questions on the motives of the assigning committees.

For this specific official, do they have a history of having problems at the top level?
 
So a ref from a fledgling rugby country has a bad match is a diversity hire?

Does that make a ref from a tier 1 nation having a bad match an example of the old boys club at work protecting their own?

Ultimately we can only gauge how a ref will handle a new level of officiating by getting them in the mix; first as AR and then in the middle.

Maybe we need to a repeated pattern of sub-par performances by a ref who keeps getting assigned to top level matches before throwing around these terms and raising questions on the motives of the assigning committees.

For this specific official, do they have a history of having problems at the top level?
No, he has no history of issues, last season he did Ireland v Wales in the 6N, and also the URC final.

We all know (as refs) that the losing side will always find something to disagree with. I didn't see the game so I cannot comment on his performance there, but this is the first I have heard about him being poor/substandard.

I would also disagree with Dickie that Italy is a fledgling country, or that Andrea Piardi is a 'B panel' ref. Criticising a ref, particularly on this forum, because your team lost is shameful.
 
No, he has no history of issues, last season he did Ireland v Wales in the 6N, and also the URC final.

We all know (as refs) that the losing side will always find something to disagree with. I didn't see the game so I cannot comment on his performance there, but this is the first I have heard about him being poor/substandard.

I would also disagree with Dickie that Italy is a fledgling country, or that Andrea Piardi is a 'B panel' ref. Criticising a ref, particularly on this forum, because your team lost is shameful.
That being the case Wales must have had a dozen incompetent referees in the last year or so. 😆
 
Criticising a ref, particularly on this forum, because your team lost is shameful.
That isn't what happened and I find it shameful, offensive [insert pejorative of choice] that you would say so.
Get a copy of the game and in particular have a look at Valentini's position in the Irish lineout in the 6th minute
 
Sorry, should have said affirmative action hire
Dickie, you're just being an arse now.

I thought it was the poms you lot accused of whinging. every time Australia lost, Aussie fans blamed the ref. You should be better than this.
 
Dickie, you're just being an arse now.

I thought it was the poms you lot accused of whinging. every time Australia lost, Aussie fans blamed the ref. You should be better than this.
So its a rule that you can only criticise the ref when you win? ... yeah, nah
 
We all know (as refs) that the losing side will always find something to disagree with. I didn't see the game so I cannot comment on his performance there, but this is the first I have heard about him being poor/substandard.

criticising a ref, particularly on this forum, because your team lost is shameful.

Two issues here:

WhenI do my club's reports on referees I always find it easier to be critical wen we have won and especilly convincingly. Much harder to be critical when we lose. Why should that be? The prerformance is the same. But I don't wish to be accused of sour grapes.

But the referee needs honesty if I'm crap I need to be told that (though tghere i aa way to say itand way no to say it).

I remember a game that my club lost a few years ago. Wewhere man shamed in the scrum and soundly beaten on the scoreboard. The WRU assessor (a former IRB International refere) appologetically looked to me on a number of occasions as the referee pingged our scrum for the other sides offences (our scum was not great but a stream of pens came from their tight head borining in on the hooker).

After around 65 minutes their captain came off and, in front of the assessor said "this is great we do what the f%^k we like and he gives us a f&%&I%g penalty!!!" His teammates laughed. He was telling the truth. The assessor made ntoes and we both shook our heads.

After the game I thanked the ref and his team and added; "you need to learn about and understand the scrum". The scrum was the only "minus" on the feedback report.

Now should I have "shut up like a good loser?" NO! It had to be said. Yes I knew the "official" feedback from the assessor was also going to black mark the scrums. So, my voice was ono lone voice in the wind.

Was I "criticising a ref because your team lost" and acting in a "shameful" way? I guess you'd say I was. I fundementally Worth noting that referee went on to reach a very good standard. He had several positive reports in games we both won and lost from me. Hopefully my words contributed to abit of soul searching. Who knows?

We also know that life is full of People getting appointments for the wrong reasons. Why should rugby be any different? I find Dickie posts a bit of crap from time to time. But I don't find his post to be a case of "Dickie, you're just being an arse now.

I thought it was the poms you lot accused of whinging. every time Australia lost, Aussie fans blamed the ref. You should be better than this." He's asking a question that should be answered in the affermative OR the negative as required.
 
Last edited:
Two issues here:

WhenI do my club's reports on referees I always find it easier to be critical wen we have won and especilly convincingly. Much harderto be ritical when we lose. Why shouldthat be the prerformance is the same. But Idon't wish to be accused of sour grapes.

But the referee needs honesty if I'm crap I need to be told that (though tghere i aa way to say itand way no to say it).

I remember a game that my club lost a fw years ago. We here man shamed in the scrum and soundly beaten on the scoreboard. The WRU assessor (a former IRB International refere) appologetically looked to me on a number of occasions as the referee pingged our scrum for the othersides offences (our scum was not great but a stream of pens came from their tight head brining in on the hooker.

After around 65 minutes their captain came off and , in front of the assessor said "this is great we do what the f%^k we like and he gives us a f&%&I%g penalty!!!" His teammates laughed. He was telling the truth. The assessor mae ntes anf we both shook our heads.

After the game I thanked the ref and his team and added; "you need to learn about and understand the scrum". The scrum was the only "minus" on th feedback report.

Now should I have "shut up like a good loser?" NO! It had to be said. Yes I knew the "official" feedback from the assessor was also going to black mark the scrums. So, my voice was on lone voice in the wind.

Was I "criticising a ref because your team lost" and acting in a "shameful" way? I guess you'd say I was. I fundementally Worth noting that referee went on to reach a very good standard. He had several positive reports in games we both won and lost from me. Hopefully my words contributed to abit of soul searching. Who knows?

We also know that life is full of People gettingappointments for the wrong reasons. Why should rugby be any different? I find Dickie to post a bit of crap from time to time. But I don't find his post to be as case of "Dickie, you're just being an arse now.

I thought it was the poms you lot accused of whinging. every time Australia lost, Aussie fans blamed the ref. You should be better than this." He's asking a question that should be answered in the affermative OR the negative as required.
Marc, I think that providing a referee with feedback, is very different from sarcasm on a website/chat forum.
 
Marc, I think that providing a referee with feedback, is very different from sarcasm on a website/chat forum.
Your "sarcasm on a website/chat forum." is others discussion. Depends what your purpose is. I guess . You know Your "Terrorist" is my "freedom fighter" and all that. I think of a referees' forum (for discussing rugby / refereeing matters) we SHOULD be free to openly say what we think. This is not Twitter or Facebook.

There is a lot ofevidence to suggest tier one sides are "protected" when they play Tier two sides and that they are refereed wit hmore "leeway" that evidence my nat stand scutiny. Unless we subject to scrutiny the "myth" (if that i what it is) lives on. Perhaps thais is what WR wants. Betterit be "malicious myth" than be proven true. Personally i'd prefer it proven one way or the other and then dealt with properly than swept under the carpet.
 
Your "sarcasm on a website/chat forum." is others discussion. Depends what your purpose is. I guess . You know Your "Terrorist" is my "freedom fighter" and all that. I think of a referees' forum (for discussing rugby / refereeing matters) we SHOULD be free to openly say what we think. This is not Twitter or Facebook.
I'm not entirely sure that I understand the first part of that.

As for your assertion that we should be free to say what we think, I would absolutely agree. But this right should not prevent us from criticism for what we say. As we see in the 'real world', the concept of free speech comes with responsibilities and at a time when there is an active thread around MOA, I find it very poor that anyone on this forum should use the forum to criticise a ref in the way it was done.

It is ludicrous to suggest that my use of the word 'sarcasm' is just my perspective of a 'genuine question'. Does anyone on here truly believes International Rugby uses diversity hires?

On a side note, you'll find that Twitter entertains many millions who openly say what they think.
 
Does anyone on here truly believes International Rugby uses diversity hires?
Yes, I do. Does anyone on here believe that the female referees officiating the women internationals are the best referees available?
I understand why its done, but let's not play emperor's new clothes
 
Back
Top