With Frank Murphy announced as the referee for Saturday's URC semi-final between Leinster and Munster, the predictable discourse surrounding Murphy's loyalties has popped up on social media.
Murphy grew up in Cork and played for Munster between 2001 and 2006. However, he also spent a chunk of his career at Leicester Tigers, playing alongside Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.
Will he have bias towards either side? Or will he try and over compensate by being particularly harsh to one of the teams?
These are some of the issues being brought up, but Stephen Ferris - in of our regular chats in association with Ladbrokes - has rubbished these claims, and praised Murphy's skills as a referee.
No, I don't think it has any impact whatsoever. To be honest, sometimes it's maybe the head coach is playing a few mind games to try and get one or two decisions to go their way, and the supporters on social media that jump in and rally behind that as well.
But, Frank Murphy will have another couple of layers of fake tan on at the weekend, ready and ready to go, he'll have the beard trimmed to perfection, the haircut. He'll go to the local barbers and get them all sorted.
I caught up with him after the game, him and Andrew brace up in Belfast, and obviously Andrew Brace gave 18 penalties against Ulster and came under huge flack.
But after reviewing the game, I went through a lot of them, there might have been one call that could have went their way with the McCloskey/Conor Oliver situation, where the penalty went in Connacht's way.
Will Frank Murphy Affect The Outcome Of The Game?
So if I have this correct, Leinster fans think Frank Murphy favours Munster because he’s from there and Munster fans think he favours Leinster so he doesn’t seem like he’s acting in favour of his home team?
— Peter Brophy (@PeterBrophy10) May 10, 2023
Definitely going to make Leinster v Munster more entertaining on Saturday with the announcement of Frank Murphy as referee.
AR 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) AR 2: Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU). #rugby— Joe Naughton (@JoeNaConnacht) May 10, 2023
I'm sure Frank Murphy will do a fine job, but surely a ref with no ties to either team would be a better choice for a semi-final
Of course, it's not the first time a ref from one province - who played with the coach of the other - reffed this fixture
https://t.co/Gkx3S10sCM— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) May 10, 2023
READ HERE: Seven Irish Players Dominate Stephen Ferris's URC Team Of The Season
"But those guys have got a hard job," continued Ferris.
"They know that they can't make mistakes at this level because it can be very, very costly. And I think Frank Murphy generally has been a very good referee.
"I just hope that there isn't another red card or a yellow card or 50-50 decision. And as much stick and slack Wayne Barnes gets, and even in the Ireland France game when he only yellow carded Antonio, he didn't ruin the game.
"And a lot of these high tackles or coming in at the side, there's a head on head at the ruck, it's a rugby incident and I think he understands that a lot more and goes with his own gut feeling on it instead of just looking at the laws book and saying this is it, he has to go off.
"So hopefully Frank Murphy, a half decent rugby player in his time, knows the game inside out and hopefully some of these big calls are evenly spread across both sides and we get a really good game."
SEE ALSO: Andy Friend Explains How Connacht's 'Moneyball' Approach Helps Them Find Gems
