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Mon 22 Jan 2018 | 11:07
Wayne Barnes humbles moany Ma'a with a schoolboy telling off

17
Comments

He may have won World Cup's and be considered one of the best All Black center's ever, but Toulon center Ma'a Nonu was well and truly put in his place by Wayne Barnes on Saturday. The experienced referee had no time for Nonu's whinging, so reminded him who is in charge.

Nonu was appealing for a yellow card as things got a bit heated during the Scarlets and Toulon Champions Cup clash, but Barnes was having none of it.

"Let's make it really clear," Barnes explained. "You come and ask for a yellow card, you'll get one. Understand?"

Nonu sheepishly agreed and that was the end of that.

It's similar to the classic moment we featured here all of ten years ago, when Barnes famously gave Martin Corry and Steve Borthwick a telling off, in a fine example of a referee asserting his authority, despite the experience and calibre of the player's in question.

Scarlets kept their lead and held on for a 30-27 victory, which sees them facing La Rochelle in the next round of the tournament, the knock out stages.

credit: devinZA

Posted By: Grant Constable

17 Comments

  • drg
    10:24 PM 30/01/2018

    Hahaha cheers for that! Fine example of my point, not too hung up on explaining the latest stats on Bastareud, just makes a comment that a blind 'viewer' could picture in their heads!

  • filthypete
    6:16 PM 29/01/2018

    Peter O Mahony got 10 yards in match against racing 92 in this years competition.

  • rugbydump
    11:37 AM 29/01/2018

    DrG, the Scottish guy is Andrew Cotter. He's great
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZKZ-Wsh9qQ

  • dancarter
    12:37 PM 26/01/2018

    I have seen it happen in a top flight game recently, although I'm not sure which specific match it was in. Maybe Pau-Gloucester?

  • jimmy23
    3:35 PM 25/01/2018

    Thanks! I really wish he'd get some international matches.

  • reality
    2:03 PM 25/01/2018

    Now that you mention it, I haven't seen 10m given for backchat in years and years. And it's not because there's no backchat.

  • dancarter
    9:51 PM 24/01/2018

    His name is Mark Robson. Really good commentator.

  • jimmy23
    5:30 PM 24/01/2018

    There's also this Irish guy I really like, a particular highlight for me at 3:58; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZtqhDyWa74

    Still can't remember his name though.

  • drg
    4:20 PM 24/01/2018

    I quite like the Scottish commentator, I can't remember his name, I think they pair him with Brian Moore sometimes. I find that because he isn't so caught up in the technicalities of the game he sort of commentates on the spirit being shown, he uses words like scramble, scurry etc, I dunno just makes for easy listening I suppose...

  • dancarter
    5:04 PM 23/01/2018

    It's Barnes and Harrison, Harrison isn't great and Barnes is dreadful. I think Phil Kearns, Austin Healey, Ugo Monye and Jonathan Davies are all pretty bad too. In my ideal world, Greenwood and Flatman commentate on everything. It would be a good mix of genuine insight and a bit of humour.

  • dancarter
    4:57 PM 23/01/2018

    I think the increased dialogue between players and the ref isn't necessarily a bad thing, depending on what is being said. The best referees, imo, are the ones that actively tell the players what they want so they can avoid penalties and let the game flow. I've noticed Owens and Barnes even go to the extent of advising players trying to roll away from rucks which direction to go in to avoid getting in the way of the opposing 9 or stopping the ball coming out.

  • drg
    12:24 PM 23/01/2018

    Actually (to both of you) I think the reason there is a lot more mouth these days is because there is a lot less fist and boot....

    Players can't ruck another out the way these days, so they resort to shouting at the referee to draw his attention...players can't give another player a clout, so again, resort to shouting, moaning, or feigning an injury to draw attention to the situation..

    I can't say I approve of the talking/moaning/shouting and definitely don't approve of feigning injury, but the games the author of.its own downfall...

    Either that or it has no place in our modern civilised utopia...

  • thefrontrow
    2:38 AM 23/01/2018

    There is far too much talking from the players these days, that's for sure, and the Captain should be the only man talking to the ref. But more communication from the ref during play keeps the game alive, and anything is better than 80 minutes of penalties.

  • drg
    12:58 AM 23/01/2018

    I don't mind a referee tooting his whistle and having a quick chat with an offending player...I think it actually helps the game flow more as plauers are more aware of what the referee requires... But I agree that having players 1-15 + reserves + coaches + medical staff and a nearby die hard fan all getting in the referees ear is not a good look..

  • finedisregard
    12:31 AM 23/01/2018

    Way way way too much talking from rugby referees these days, and to non-captains. Go watch a match from the 80's, refs just awarded penalties and teams retreated 10m.

    The problem is that players believe they are part of a dialogue when they are not.

    All this increased chat by players and refs is not good for the game.

  • thefrontrow
    9:34 PM 22/01/2018

    Agreed, IMO he's easily one of the better referees and allows both teams to play a good game of rugby, and doesn't allow nonsense.

    Off topic here but I cant bear the commentators in the clip above, they're as terrible as Justin Marshall and co.

  • dancarter
    5:21 PM 22/01/2018

    Good stuff from Barnes. When I first got into rugby I wasn't a fan of Barnes, but the more I watch him and listen to the players that know him personally and have been refereed by him, he seems like a pretty good referee and a decent bloke as well.

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