Home town decisions adding to frustrations

On Rugby:Michael Cheika and David Knox in particular, and Leinster generally, would need to be careful not to become known as the biggest whingers of the Magners Celtic League, which in turn might become self-fulfilling prophecies and would undermine the fine work they've done as coaches with the province.

Leinster are undoubtedly becoming paranoid about officiating in the Celtic League, be it Scottish referees and Welsh touchjudges, or vice versa, but then again they've plenty of reason to be paranoid.

Throughout the day in Castle Avenue at the AIB League semi-final and beyond over the weekend, the main talking point was undoubtedly the standard of officiating during Leinster's 19-17 defeat to the Ospreys in what may well prove to be a title decider.

Nothing has become a bigger bugbear among coaches and players, and now it would seem supporters as well, than the League's appointment of 'home' touch judges to save money. The penalty count from the Scottish referee Peter Allan was 14-5 in favour of the home side, and yet again every intervention or marginal call from the touch judges, and Nigel Owens in particular, benefited the home side.

Watching the video did not change one's view and the abiding impression is that the officiating went a long way towards deciding the game and with it the league.

In a general sense, there seemed to be one set of rules for each team at the vexed area of the breakdown in particular, observing the hindmost foot and even throw-ins.

An example of the first mentioned came as early as the 18th minute when Ryan Jones ripped out turnover ball when many referees would have decreed that "a ruck had been formed" as co-commentator Peter McKenna observed.

Owens called two line-outs incorrectly in the Ospreys' favour, the second when Richard Pugh's boot clearly pushed the ball over the line, and this led to their opening three-pointer. When Chris Whitaker was penalised for not rolling away, Justin Marshall could clearly be seen to not release when Gordon D'Arcy had the ball in his hands.

A non-existent advantage having been supposedly used up by Leinster when Shaun Connor had been penalised for offside, so it went on. The supposed knock-on by Girvan Dempsey from the restart at three-all was clearly Stefan Terblanche knocking on, and this led to Marshall scoring the first try when picking up an offload by the outstanding Filo Tiatia which was two or three yards forward, and right beside Mr Allan.

The call for a 'crooked feed' against Whitaker at a Leinster scrum at 10-all was laughable, and Allan's judgement that Shane Horgan's knockdown from a restart at 17-10 to Leinster also looked wrong. There then followed the harsh sinbinning of Jamie Heaslip, given it was inside the Ospreys half and if anyone was going to emerge with the ball it was Leinster, and the three penalty calls against Leinster which helped push the Ospreys over the winning line, not to mention the strong case for offside or fringing against Richard Pugh.

In Leinster's previous game away to the Dragons, they achieved their first away win in Wales in two years under Cheika, and as mentioned here previously were indebted in large part to the strong officiating of the once derided Malcolm Changleng in a decidedly feisty atmosphere. Leinster kept their heads, conceded only six penalties, and despite the intervention of a home touchjudge which saw Brian Blaney sinbinned, Changleng unhesitating and rightly yellow carded Ian Gough and Ceri Sweeney for stamping and a high tackle. How they could have done with Changleng last Friday.

In too many games this season the officials have appeared to influence the game unnecessarily. Connacht have been the victim of many marginal calls, especially away from home and particularly when it comes to touch judges calling supposed forward passes, or not as the case be.

Talking to Munster players, nothing about this competition irritates them more than this increasingly vexed pattern.

Leinster didn't play especially well, and their attacking cohesion and fluidity appears to have dipped since their European Cup exit. Yet they at least have sustained a league challenge better than their fellow Irish provinces.

Some players have perhaps lost their form, although Gordon D'Arcy cannot be included in that category and Girvan Dempsey gave a tour de force on Friday night in both attack and defence. Credit too to Felipe Contepomi, who sat another finals exam in his medical studies on Friday morning and then flew over to link up with his team-mates on the day of the match, producing a virtuoso try, playing with his usual physical bravery, landing all his kicks and locating huge touchfinders. Short of driving the bus or flying the plane, it's difficult to see what more he could do, and the thought of him being a full-time professional rugby player next season must fill Cheika and Knox with optimism.

In the heel of the hunt though, official's decision-making is affecting people's livelihoods. Leinster have only won two away matches, although it's worth pointing out that the same applies to the Ospreys - albeit with three away games to come. Given so few teams have that much to play for, with the European Cup having a blurred future and qualification from all three countries a done deal anyway, they must be favourites now.

But the League has a serious credibility problem now which has to be addressed or otherwise, if you were a high ranking figure in Magners, you'd be asking how your money is being spent.