1sts home to Cleve on Saturday with a 2.15 Kick off. This coincides with Italy beating Wales again in the "M6N" in Rome. You could then hang around and cheer on England against arch-rivals France (other arch-rivals include Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand in fact just about everyone else, this is because everyone hates the English) All I hope for is impartial refereeing, so the best team wins on merit, is this too much to ask? Unlike that ***tshow last Saturday, I mean, last weekend in Dublin with the game poised at 10-10, Ireland overthrow a lineout, Ellis Genge gathers and sets off on a charge up the middle, referee Mr. Ben O'Keefe (Kiwi) calls it back for an alleged Itoje misdemeanor, replays show nothing happened. Therefore you can only conclude he's penalised England because he thought they must have infringed, not because he's seen it*. I had to stop watching after that. The sad thing is that nobody in the England set-up, or the media or most of the supporters of England rugby call it out, they just accept it like it's the norm (compare this to the recent rantings of South Africa). Rugby at international level is a game of fine margins and momentum is everything, calls like that just ruin it as a contest. I also observed him gleefully awarding other penalties aginst England like he just couldn't contain his excitement. I love rugby but I ****ing hate it sometimes.
*Quote: "Certainly, no one can question my eyesight," he (Mr. O'Keefe) said previously. "I’m an ophthalmologist. I’ve been lucky enough to balance both careers over the last couple of years as being a professional referee has become a full-time commitment.”
