RUGBY - The head of elite refereeing development in England, Ed Morrison, has reacted strongly to criticism from the Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter that match officials are to blame for killing rugby as a viewing spectacle. Venter has questioned the professionalism of referees this season, blaming their decisions - particualrly at the breakdown - for the negative rugby that has blighted the Premiership. Morrison responded to the criticism by saying: "The breakdown is a very competitive area and the more competitive it gets, the more complex it gets. When you look in the Premiership and how difficult a contest it is, the guys do a very good job in a highly pressurised environment."For his part, Venter is facing a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Among his barbs were: "We cannot [have referees] just rock up and say: 'Hi boys, I am here, where is the whistle? Chuck me an orange.' It can't work like that. We are professional here. If I can watch the opposition's last five matches how come the referee doesn't look at the last game and come prepared.
Venter's stinging criticism has attracted the support of fellow coach Tony Hanks of Wasps, but other Premiership coaches are keeping quiet on the subject, for the time being at least.
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