Owen Doyle\u00a0has delivered a comprehensive verdict on\u00a0Hollie Davidson\u2019s history-making outing during Ireland\u2019s 20\u201313 Six Nations win over Italy at the\u00a0Aviva Stadium.<\/p>\n
Davidson became the first woman to referee a men\u2019s Six Nations match, earning her appointment on merit. But according to Doyle, while the occasion was significant, the performance itself was mixed.<\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel <\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n \u201cA Very Good\u201d Opening 40<\/p>\n Doyle was clear in his praise for Davidson\u2019s first-half display.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first half was, by any metric, a very good performance by Davidson,\u201d he wrote in his column for The Irish Times.<\/a><\/p>\n He felt the major decisions before the break were correct, including the sin-binning of Italy wing Louis Lynagh.<\/p>\n \u201cItaly\u2019s Louis Lynagh was rightly binned for a deliberate knock-on as he had no chance of catching the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n Doyle also supported the yellow card shown to Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey for an upright tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile it might have looked a harsh call and the degree of danger was not high, Casey needed to make some effort to position himself for a legal tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n In Doyle\u2019s view, both incidents were refereed in line with current directives around player safety and cynical play.<\/p>\n Rising Temper and Breakdown Confusion<\/p>\n The second half, however, was a different story.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we got into the second half, the temperature rose and tempers frayed.\u201d<\/p>\n Doyle suggested the increasing physicality and niggle made the contest harder to manage, and he hinted that Ireland lock James Ryan\u2019s behaviour may not go unnoticed.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this respect, James Ryan may well be heading for trouble as his attempts to provoke the opposition were totally out of order.\u201d<\/p>\n Breakdown decisions became a talking point, particularly from Ireland\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the intensity ratcheting up, we saw a few incorrect and questionable decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that Ireland captain Caelan Doris had legitimate grounds for his frustrations.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo or three breakdown calls perplexed Irish captain Caelan Doris. He had a point.\u201d<\/p>\n TMO Intervention Under Fire<\/p>\n The most contentious moment arrived when Italy were denied a try after TMO\u00a0Ian Tempest\u00a0ruled that a pass from\u00a0Tommaso Menoncello\u00a0to Lynagh was forward. Doyle did not hold back in his criticism.<\/p>\n \u201cThe scoring pass from the superb Tommaso Menoncello to Lynagh was called forward, ruling out the try.\u201d<\/p>\n He described the TMO\u2019s involvement as unnecessary.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an unnecessary intrusion by TMO Ian Tempest, who should have stayed silent.\u201d<\/p>\n Doyle argued that the visual of the ball crossing the 22-metre line misled viewers and officials alike.<\/p>\n \u201cThe passed ball crossed the 22-metre line, making it appear as being forward.\u201d<\/p>\n But, he insisted, that alone proves nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Isaac Newton\u2019s law of momentum tells us, that has nothing to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued:<\/p>\n \u201cNor did we see evidence of the ball being delivered forward out of Menoncello\u2019s hands.\u201d<\/p>\n In Doyle\u2019s assessment, the call falls squarely into the wrong-decision column.<\/p>\n \u201cItaly clearly have a very genuine gripe on this one \u2013 it goes into the poor-decision category.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall Assessment<\/p>\n Doyle reiterated that Davidson deserved her appointment but believes the game ultimately slipped from her grasp in the second period.<\/p>\n A composed and accurate first-half display was followed by mounting pressure, breakdown inconsistencies and a controversial TMO intervention that left Italy aggrieved.<\/p>\n For Doyle, it was a tale of two halves \u2014 a \u201cvery good\u201d start overshadowed by costly second-half errors.<\/p>\n Best Rugby Referees in the World (Ranked 10-1)<\/p>\n Every week, top rugby referees step into sold-out stadiums knowing their decisions will be analysed by players, coaches, pundits and fans across the globe. It\u2019s one of the toughest jobs in professional sport \u2014 demanding accuracy, authority, fitness and mental resilience.<\/p>\n While controversy often follows the whistle, the world\u2019s best rugby referees consistently prove why they\u2019re trusted with the biggest fixtures.<\/p>\n Here is our ranking of the 10 best rugby referees in the world, counting down from 10 to 1.<\/p>\n Best rugby referees: <\/p>\n 10 Karl Dickson<\/p>\n A former Harlequins scrum-half, Dickson stepped into refereeing while still lacing up his boots. His rise through the English ranks was quick, leading to his first international appointment in 2020. His performances spark debate \u2014 some feel he occasionally lets matches slip \u2014 but his understanding of player behaviour and commitment to improving keep him respected among officials.<\/p>\n 9 Mike Adamson<\/p>\n After finishing his playing career, Adamson chose refereeing over coaching, a decision that\u2019s taken him from domestic competitions to the Rugby Championship. He\u2019s calm, knowledgeable, and composed, though some question how he manages high-pressure moments.<\/p>\n As the first person to both play and referee in the Pro12, his career reflects perseverance and passion at rugby\u2019s highest levels.<\/p>\n 8 Matt Carley<\/p>\n Carley has built a distinguished career as one of rugby\u2019s leading referees. Rising through the domestic ranks, he became a regular official at the top level of English rugby and earned appointments in major international competitions. <\/p>\n His calm authority, consistency, and ability to manage the game\u2019s tempo have earned widespread respect across the sport.<\/p>\n 7 James Doleman<\/p>\n From Dunedin school fields to international arenas, Doleman\u2019s rise has been swift. Clear communication is his calling card, even if some observers feel he\u2019s still growing into the very biggest stages.<\/p>\n Having already officiated major Test nations, his reputation for accuracy and confidence is expanding quickly.<\/p>\n 6 Luke Pearce<\/p>\n Pearce\u2019s progression has been smooth and steady. Starting at just 16, he earned early respect for his clarity and rapport with players.<\/p>\n Fans love how he lets games breathe, though others think he\u2019s sometimes too lenient. His guiding-over-controlling philosophy has made him a regular pick for major internationals.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n