Nigel Owens is a good referee.
He’s fair, he officiates with common sense, and the players seem to respect him above most.
But his performances – his downright fine performances – have propelled his status beyond refereeing. He’s a character in himself now and he’s discussed and analysed and praised like any world class rugby player.
You hear more of his soundbites than you do some athletes and coaches and it’s times like Sunday when you wonder if he’s jumping the shark.
During the Pro 12 clash between Scarletts and Cardiff Blues, the Welshman had a swipe at the substitutes. The six new front row players were jostling in the scrum and the referee had to intervene. Intervening apparently wasn’t enough though.
“Is this why you’re not starting the game?” Owens said to them.
“Because the front six have been very good – you keep the same standard as all of them please.”
"Is this why you're not starting the game?"
Don't know who's worse here, Nigel Owens or the commentators. pic.twitter.com/cd2GKAOSOK
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) January 1, 2017
It was an unnecessary insult from the man in charge but dressed up as good humour.
In fairness, some of them did take the joke.
Others, not so much.
But it was another game that Nigel Owens was threatening to overshadow. His quotes do the rounds on social media, commentators seemingly fawn over his handling of any situation, and the rugby world moves on with their referee’s celebrity reputation rising each time.
You have to wonder why he needs to have a word like that though. One that could even be construed as provocative.
You have to wonder why he needed to insult a group of hard-working athletes to get his point across.
Was the game and its players put first in this one? Or were the TV cameras?
WATCH: Nigel Owens reprimands the Scarlets & Cardiff replacement front row with another classic line: https://t.co/ie2eaAxG69
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) January 1, 2017
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