The Six Nations clash between Ireland and Italy was a historic moment for women's rugby, with Hollie Davidson making history as the first-ever woman to take charge of a men's Six Nations match. However, the game was not without controversy, with Davidson's decisions coming under scrutiny. Ex-IRFU referee boss Owen Doyle has weighed in on the big decisions made by Davidson and her officiating team during the match, stating that while she was selected for the match on merit, she didn’t have the best of performances. In this article, we'll explore the key talking points from the game, including the controversial calls made by Davidson and the impact of the TMO's intervention. We'll also take a closer look at the performance of Ireland star Craig Casey and the impact of his yellow card on the game. Finally, we'll discuss the future of women's rugby and the role that Davidson and other female referees will play in shaping the sport's future. But here's where it gets controversial... The second half of the match was a turning point for Davidson, with her decisions coming under fire. According to Doyle, she was not helped by the intervention of TMO Ian Tempest, who was adamant that Italy's Tommaso Menoncello's pass to Lynagh was forward. This decision ruled out one of the Azzurri's tries, and Italy clearly have a very genuine gripe on this one. As the intensity of the game ratcheted up, we saw a few incorrect and questionable decisions. Two or three breakdown calls perplexed Irish captain Caelan Doris, who had a point. The scoring pass from the superb Tommaso Menoncello to Lynagh was called forward, ruling out the try. It was an unnecessary intrusion by TMO Ian Tempest, who should have stayed silent. The passed ball crossed the 22-metre line, making it appear as being forward. But, as Isaac Newton's law of momentum tells us, that has nothing to do with it. Nor did we see evidence of the ball being delivered forward out of Menoncello's hands. The last-minute penalty against Edwin Edogbo was also in that category. Or was it? Edogbo seemed to do as he was told, but was pinged anyway. If Davidson considered that he had slowed down Italian possession, then she probably felt a penalty was necessary. It was all very debatable and therefore, the wise course of action was to play on. Potentially result-altering decisions need to be crystal clear and this one was not. And this is the part most people miss... The performance of Ireland star Craig Casey was also under scrutiny, with his yellow card coming under fire. Doyle believes that Casey needed to make some effort to position himself for a legal tackle, but the degree of danger was not high. This decision was also controversial, with some arguing that it was too harsh. The verdict on the big calls is clear: while Davidson was selected for the match on merit, she didn’t have the best of performances. Her decisions were not always crystal clear, and the TMO's intervention did not help. The future of women's rugby is bright, with Davidson and other female referees playing a key role in shaping the sport's future. However, there is still work to be done to ensure that all decisions are crystal clear and that all referees are given the support they need to perform at the highest level. So, what do you think? Do you agree with Doyle's verdict on the big calls? Or do you think that Davidson and her officiating team did a great job? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
