David Strettle talking himself out of selection?

Question

Disregarding if the last minute try should have been given (every angle I've seen it from suggests his arm was beneath the ball), David Strettle has come out to the press and criticised the match officials publicly. As an ex-player I was always always always told to respect the ref's decision, you take it on the chin, and that is what differentiates our great game from the debacle called football. In football, refs are taken through the mill every week, and sometimes even abused on the pitch - in rugby it has always been different. After the world cup antics, I'd have thought the English camp would just want to play rugby and not rock any boats again for a while. Appears this isn't the case.

Any thoughts?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

He's a prime example of why the Aussies call you 'wingeing Poms'.

I agree with you... we musn't let rugby go the way of football.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think that he is talking himself out of selection as such, but it is definitely not an acceptable thing to do. Strettle has played reasonably well, but he is certainly not helping himself.

It is a terrible thing that complaining about referees is becoming a common thing, and we are letting our beautiful game slip into the terrible thing that is professional football. The one thing I will say is that thank God we don't have racism. The day an International player racially abuses another, I will take up flower arranging, which at this rate will be the only activity unpolluted by these terrible things.

Mark L · Answer

Alas, I am afraid that the attitude you describe toward officials is hard to maintain in a professional game.  Look at the rubbish that is launched at referees in other professional sports (association football is certainly bad, but for out-of-bounds abuse, it's hard to beat professional sports in USA.)

If not risking selection, Strettle probably is risking a citation from the RFU and a fine for bringing the game into disrepute.   I'd welcome it, both because, like you, respect for Sir is the way I was "raised" in the game, but also because if they don't act, they are asking for it to get out of hand.

Mark L.

Bill P · Answer

His most stupid comment was that he should have been given the benefit of the doubt. They have this in rugby league and there have been some appalling decisions with the benefit of doubt tries. The best method is what is rugby at the moment. If they can see its a try, award it. If they can't see if it has been scored, disallow it.

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David Strettle talking himself out of selection?

4 Answers