With the likely dominance of the southern hemisphere teams at the business end of the tournament, the IRB have cleverly planned for an abundance of northern hemisphere refs to be available for the quarters, semi-finals and final.
The bets have opened on who will will ref the final.
The 10 refs selected for the RWC 2011:
Barnes, Wayne (RFU), Owens, Nigel (WRU), Walsh, Steve (ARU), Clancy, George (IRFU), Joubert, Craig (SARU), Poite, Romain (FFR), Rolland, Alain (IRFU), Lawrence, Bryce (NZRU), Kaplan, Jonathan (SARU), Pearson, Dave (RFU).
Assistant referees:
Garces, Jerome* (FFR), Pollock, Chris* (NZRU), McDowell, Simon (IRFU), Munro, Vinny (NZRU), Terheege, Stuart (RFU), Hayes, Tim (WRU), Damasco, Carlo (FIR).
TMOs:
Hughes, Graham (RFU), Veldsman, Shaun (SARU) De Santis, Giulio (FIR), Goddard, Matt (ARU).
* = Reserve referees.
The appointments for the 40 Pool matches will not be announced until August. Ireland’s George Clancy, making his rugby World Cup debut, will take charge of the opening match between hosts New Zealand and Tonga at Eden Park on September 9.
Appointments for the knock-out matches will be made following a performance review after the completion of the pool phase when 10 of the 21 match officials will be retained.
Kaplan and Walsh will be officiating at their fourth rugby World Cup (a tournament record), while the referees have taken charge of 287 Tests between them at an average of 28.7 Tests per Referee.
IRB said it was “really exciting to see the likes of George Clancy, Dave Pearson, Romain Poite, Bryce Lawrence and Craig Joubert included within a Rugby World Cup Referee Panel for the first time on merit.”
Colin N
Guest
"Kaplan a horrible choice but the biggest concern is the NH referee’s who won’t be able to keep up with the SH players or their style of play expect to see McCaw, Brussow and Pocock penalised constantly." In every game bar one in what was a very exciting Tri-Nations last season, was refereed by a northern hemisphere. The only game that wasn't and coincidently was by far the worst game of the tournament, was refereed by Kaplan.
Jerry
Guest
Ah, fair enough.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Yes I do too, I said in my first post that he should be in the ones chosen. I was talking about the SH refs chosen ie my exclusion saying Kaplan and Bryce Lawrence are not as good.
Jerry
Guest
I rate Mark Lawrence too.
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree, by and large the NH refs are better. Only Joubert and Walsh are in their class.
Derm
Roar Guru
No he didn't. He was running the line in a 6 Nations match the following week. IRB censure only last for as long as their public apologies - which is about no time at all.
Jerry
Guest
I don't think that really holds true. There's been NH refs for some very entertaining test matches in recent years. The WC may be a tighter affair, but that will be more down to team's looking not to make mistakes rather than the refs.
Mark Robinson
Guest
Kaplan a horrible choice but the biggest concern is the NH referee's who won't be able to keep up with the SH players or their style of play expect to see McCaw, Brussow and Pocock penalised constantly. Also be prepared for an over abundance of scrums, lineouts and driving mauls. There will be very little Crusader style rugby!
Dingo Bob
Guest
Must admit I thought Walsh at Twickenham was one of the best refereed games I've seen this season. Didn't Kaplan get sat out for three weeks earlier this year for stuffing up in a Six Nations game?
Rusty
Roar Guru
Mark Lawrence should be in the list at Kaplans expense. He may the most senior ref on the circuit but has been poor this season. Glad to see Craig Joubert on the list - for my money one of the best going around at the moment, probably along with Walsh, Owens and Barnes
Derm
Roar Guru
I was making a funny, bennalong.
Wally James
Roar Guru
Sounds pretty fair to me.
jus de couchon
Guest
Roger Quittendon , probably the best , isnt on the list . Saying that though , neutral refs and all that , an English ref wont be Involved in the RWC Finnal.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Bryce Lawrence? Dear oh dear.
allblackfan
Guest
Romain Poite's inclusion is an even bigger disgrace than Barnes' presence!
Fatty
Guest
Like all selections..politics abounds. Great to see Chris Pollock get a spot. Personally, I think the best performed S14 2010 and thus far S15 2011 ref going around. Kaplan selection awful. Wasn't picked for U12's in the pouring rain in Cowra today. Should not be picked for RWC. B Lawrence over rated, Poite and Rolland there to keep the balance to NH.....but it all comes down to politics!
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
I actually would have liked to seen Vinny Munro on the referees list. From what I hear he took up the whistle late, so that has worked against him, but I think the way he referees where you don't really notice him on the field is a fine example of how rugby should be officiated.
Football United
Guest
Kaplan - FML
Jerry
Guest
Most Kiwis think Barnes is a good ref these days. Doesn't mean he wasn't awful in the 1/4 though...
Wally James
Roar Guru
Despite what our Kiwi cousins may think, Barnes is a good choice. He is my tip for the final if England don't make it. Dickinson had no chance after he wrongly penalised the NZ scrum repeatedly against the Italians on the last Summer tour. The NZRU has too much sway at international level for that to happen again - especially with Paddy O'Brien at the helm of the refs. As for the rest, they seem ok. There is certainly no-one who cries out for inclusion. But two further points - firstly Veldsman is woeful. He was elevated far beyond his level of competence when he reffed S14 a couple of years ago. He always looked like a roo in the headlights whenever the pressure came on and was far from decisive. His TMO officiating is equally woeful. The second - it is a shocking indictment upon the way Australian refs are coached and assessed that our sole representative is a Kiwi - and a mug lair at that. Good luck to him for overcoming alcohol dependance and all that sort of thing. But really! No-one in Australia even good enough to be an assistant ref? Disgraceful.