Week 5, and dare I say it it's beginning to look like moaning about refs has had a positive effect. We've only gone and topped the table! Still, two experienced refs doesn't make a summer... long way to go still.

Connacht v Leinster: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 41st competition game)
Ospreys v Munster: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 27th competition game)
Blues v Ulster: Marius Mitrea (IRFU, 11th competition game)
Wariors v Zebre: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 19th competition game)
Dragons v Edinburgh: John Lacey (IRFU, 23rd competition game)
Treviso v Scarlets: Andrew McMenemy (SRU, 14th competition game)

	Team	Average ref experience (in games)
1.	Connacht	30
2.	Scarlets	28
	Ulster	28
4.	Munster	24
5.	Glasgow	23
	Ospreys	23
7.	Leinster	21
8.	Dragons	20
9.	Treviso	18
10.	Blues	17
	Zebre	17
12.	Edinburgh	13

ummm, wrote: Was disappointed that on the TV coverage the fans yelling at the ref came through clearer than the fans cheering for Connacht

ref did well apart from two forward passes and a knockon on the ground.

believe me there was very very little left to shout at in the second half. all happy at half time then the same old disaster.
i know we will have hard times at connacht, not here for glory, just want the players to do there all and the simple basic. some failed both them, others were fantastic.

ill say fair play to all the supporters who stayed to the end, shocking.
fans need something to shout about on the field, players fail to do that.

rant over :ohmy:

I thought Paterson did quite well. Communicated clearly with the players and no major howlers. Connacht started shipping penalties as Scarlets turned the screw and that's not the fault of the ref, that's just the result of good pressure.

Was disappointed that on the TV coverage the fans yelling at the ref came through clearer than the fans cheering for Connacht

Credit were credit's due Paterson had a good game last week. Happy to have Rolland in the mix for next week.

OldSchool wrote: Who appoints the refs and do we get a chance to object

From the Rabo site:

"The referees for all matches in the RaboDirect PRO12 shall be chosen by the RefereeManagers of the Unions in conjunction with from a list of referees nominated by each Union. The referees and touch judges for the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi Finals and RaboDirect PRO12 Final shall be appointed by ,."

Clear as mud then

The Pro12.

And no.

Who appoints the refs and do we get a chance to object

ummm, wrote: Nice to have an elite level ref for a change.

<Holds nose> :sick: Paterson was (surprisingly) very very good at the weekend </Holds nose>

God that was hard to admit!

Of course, there is no Zebre v Ulster this week after the tragic accident.

Week 4, and we've made a massive jump on the back of Alain Rolland's experience. All change on the board, lets see how long we last in the top half

I think this is the first time in a long while that Rolland has taken charge of a non-interpro Connacht match. Nice to have an elite level ref for a change.

Glasgow v Connacht: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 54th competition game)
Leinster v Edinburgh: Neil Hennessy ((WRU, 11th competition game)
Munster v Dragons: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 10th competition game)
Scarlets v Ospreys: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 18th competition game)
Blues v Treviso: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 40th competition game)

	Team	Average ref experience (in games)
1.	Ulster	34
2.	Scarlets	32
3.	Connacht	27
4.	Glasgow	24
5.	Munster	23
6.	Ospreys	22
7.	Blues	19
	Dragons	19
	Treviso	19
10.	Zebre	17
11.	Leinster	16
12.	Edinburgh	11

ConnachtCows wrote: Paterson???

Really dont like him as a ref. I know at every home game, we're biased and get upset at what we think is a wrong call, or a missed call. It always seems to be games where he's in charge though, that the crowd or loudest and angriest

Patterson is useless, ridiculously over officious and far to keen to make himself the centre of attention...

Without wishing to come across as overly positive or anything! But from the games I have watched this season I have been relatively impressed with the refs (TJ's not so much) so hopefully this theme can continue on Saturday.

I agree that the refereeing has been better but I think the new scrum law helps. Paterson took 20 something minutes of a game setting scrums even the Scottish side which were winning were fit to kill him.

Without wishing to come across as overly positive or anything! But from the games I have watched this season I have been relatively impressed with the refs (TJ's not so much) so hopefully this theme can continue on Saturday.

Paterson???

Really dont like him as a ref. I know at every home game, we're biased and get upset at what we think is a wrong call, or a missed call. It always seems to be games where he's in charge though, that the crowd or loudest and angriest

On form Paterson will cost us the game never like blaming the ref but he has been very poor

Paterson is easily the worst referee in the entire league how he's still refereeing at this level is amazing. The only good thing you can say about him is he'll be equally crap for both teams.