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Alleged Luke Pearce apology to Jamie Ritchie ignites Twitter debate
By Liam Heagney
A claim that referee Luke Pearce apologised to Jamie Ritchie for punishing his backchat during last Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland has ignited quite a debate on Twitter. The beaten Scottish skipper was penalised for the second successive game, Pearce admonishing him early in the second half: “You can’t question decisions in my face like that.”
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A social media comment posted during the BT Murrayfield match about this piqued the interest post-match of Jim Hamilton, the retired Scotland lock.
It was suggested: “If you’re a Scotland fan it might be of mild concern that captain Jamie Ritchie has been marched back 10 metres against both France and Ireland for giving lip to the ref. Captains usually receive leeway, but these last two games Nika Amushakeli and Luke Pearce have said he has crossed a line.”
Hamilton didn’t agree, posting: “Luke Pearce apologised to him after the game.” That revelation prompted numerous rugby fans to get involved in a lively debate. Here is a cross-section of what was said in the thread:
“Getting tired of Luke apologising for this. Apologising means you don’t intend to do it again. He marched Jamie back twice against Ireland after saying he regretted doing it to Billy V on your podcast. I’m sorry but I don’t believe him!”
Luke Pearce apologised to him after the game. https://t.co/q6aACtpsyK
— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) March 13, 2023
“Pearce out of his depth – refereed the game like he already knew Ireland were going to win. At a time when we are trying to grow the game and there are more eyes than ever (Netflix), the standard of officiating has to be better. Italy-Wales game was the same.”
“There was nothing to apologise for. Bitching at refs has to stop and refs should be marching players for it more. The difference is that when Pearce told Ireland the next Irish player bitching at him for a YC would get one himself, the Irish players learned and stopped.”
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“Pearce gave Sexton the ‘If you come to me demanding a yellow, I will give one to you instead’ speech in the first half. Frustrating that he wasn’t penalised like Ritchie though – feels like double standards.”
“Flippin heck, guys. Scotland lost because Ireland played better at key moments. It was nothing to do with refereeing decisions. He had already spoken to Ritchie about how he spoke. It was harsh but fair.”
“Second week in a row he has been marched though. Add in that Finn was marched as well. Do Scotland have an image problem with the refs at the moment and will continue to march them?”
“He’s being diplomatic, not apologising in the sense that he was mistaken. There is a big difference.”
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“Did he apologise sincerely for making a bad decision or did he say something like ‘I’m sorry, but you can’t come into my face shouting’, in which case it’s not a real apology for a bad decision but an explanation of why the decision was made.”
“I can’t see the need to apologise. Ritchie got up, stomped over to him like an angry schoolboy and demanded an answer in a tone you aren’t supposed to use with referees. It is becoming a bit of a habit. Pearce had little tolerance for the Irish as well. Threatened to YC Baird.”
“Apart from not carding Hogg, I thought Luke refereed well. This is not football. Players deserved to be marched back for disrespect to refs’ decisions.”
“I know he’s a mate of the pod, Jim, but he was poor. Should have binned Hogg and maybe one more for the slapping of the ball out of the scrum-half’s hand near the line.”
“South Africans reading this thread and thinking of pots and kettles.”
“Jim, what exactly did he apologise for? I’m genuinely concerned and saddened by some of the comments here. As rugby players and supporters of the game, surely we should always respect the referee’s decision win or lose, right or wrong. As Nigel Owens would say, ‘This is not soccer’.”
“Why the hell did he apologise? If it was enough to get marched back, then Ritchie was in the wrong…becoming a habit, and Ben White is no better.
“Interesting if accurate. Truth is every game Ireland playing Sexton, POM, Biggar etc are over at the refs whining like a kid who dropped their toffee apple, so there really needs to be guidance on what constitutes being marched 10.”
As captain Jamie is entitled to ask for clarification and ref had a strop and marched Scotland back 10m as he wasn't prepared to say why. Brings his decision into question, is he unable to justify the penalty.
Ireland learnt when warned once, Scotland sadly didn't. Van Der merew tackle for first Irish try was no arms. That went unpunished, hogg leaning over the ruck should have been a card also, without leaning on the ruck he never got the ball.
It's a shame Scotland lost but Ireland were better on the day.
Pearce is OK. If I had a quibble it is that he talks too much to the players. Gets into conversations. He's the ref, he's not a buddy!
A) I don’t like Pearce doing this, because either 1) he’s losing his cool in games and punishing players or 2) he’s apologizing for doing his job; it’s not a popularity contest and refs should do this much more. C) they should also be marching 9s back for taking the ball when the penalty is obviously against them. First one should be 10, second should be a card. You’re telling me a pro player can’t look at the ref and recognize who’s penalty it is
2) Ritchie does have to work on his interactions, they seem very confrontational. McCaw was the best at this. Questioned accepted moved on. Players nowadays seem to be trying to intimidate the ref.
During the France game after gilchrist received his red card I heard Ritchie arguing with the ref saying “if one of their players hits me in the head do they get a card?!”. Or something similar to that effect, he seems to be an able leader on the field but lacks the subtle communication skills other good captains have had in the past. If he’s going up and arguing like that on every point there’s no wonder he was getting his team marched back.
It’s also just as easy for Irish fans to question the refereeing performance as it is for Scottish fans. Pearce wouldn’t ref the rucks for most of the game and ignored infringements from both teams, the Scottish being a bit more blatant certainly near their line. He didn’t cover himself in glory to say the least.