The man, uniquely in my experience, who could sweet talk referees into changing their decisions and who last Saturday gave a perfectly sensible explanation down at Parc y Strade as to why referee Mathieu Raynal was correct in not awarding Scarlets a penalty try and why Glasgow’s Ollie Smith did not deserve a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.
It was Warburton, of course, who saved the day for the Lions in the last minute of the decisive Test in 2017 when, to most eyes, Ken Owens appeared to have coughed up a penalty for being offside at the restart after a Lions player knocked the ball forward.
Romain Poite signalled a penalty, but Warbuton KC went to work arguing it was purely accidental and it was within Poite’s gift to award a simple knock on. I’ve never been totally convinced of that but what Warburton effectively did – after an absolutely blameless career at the coal face and years of treating referees, opposition and media with respect and politeness – was to somehow subliminally suggest that this wonderful series really didn’t deserve to be decided like this. This is, of course, what many great lawyers do when arguing their clients’ case in front of a jury.
Warburton’s calm dissection, on TV, of the non penalty try at Parc y Stade was instructive and I suspect an eye opener for some.
His first pertinent point is that nowhere in rugby’s laws does it outlaw going to catch a ball one handed although this is frequently and wrongly cited in some leagues, notably the Premiership, as almost automatic evidence of guilt. This is a myth and needs debunking.
Esta historia es de la edición May 07, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 07, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
