Ganson had an excellent game. To suggest either that his putting his whistle to his mouth affected the defence, all of whom had their backs to him, is so ludicrous it's actually bloody funny.

Why not?

Players do it all the time!!!

Loads in the fax-bratfut game - Bradfords second try was a mile forward, with the linesman and ref on hand, and neither gave it. L'Estrange is throwing loads of short ones from dummy half.

It seems certain refs didn't get the rl memo.

Finally, as I type, he's given one!

All had their backs to him? Really? They stopped when they saw he had the whistle in his mouth, as you'd expect. In an atmosphere like that, you can't always hear the whistle, and players are tought to scan their environment, including the ref. He shouldn't have done it.

Of which they're accountable for. Are refs?

Yes.

Not even nearly as much as a player though. If a player made as many mistakes as some refs, they'd be dropped the week after or get subbed.

Only if the team had a better player waiting behind him.

Yes!!!

But not to the likes of you and me, just like the players.

?

If there was a better player, why would they be waiting behind him? Surely they'd already be in front of him?

If there was a better ref, why would they be waiting behind him? Surely they'd already be in front of him?

Perhaps the coach thought the starting player was better until he saw him make all those mistakes you posted about.

Or maybe fancied giving someone else the chance to develop and prove themselves and send a message that such incompetent standards would not be accepted?

No. Coaches never put someone out there just because they "fancied giving someone a chance"
Those chances have to be earned through training, and playing at other levels.