Why, oh why Paddy, do we get Bryce?

Having picked OZ to lose today because we were told on thursday it would be wet, windy and cold - well - I've changed my mind now it is supposed to be a nice fine day in Wellington [forecast] for the match. I still have reservations for the reasons mentioned in my long blog above but hopefully they will have been addressed over the course of the tournament. Go the Wallabies!!

The offside line should ALWAYS be adjudicated by the TJ/AR. This is one instance where rugby could copy an excellent practice from soccer.

Forget about all the motherhood statements about adapting to the referee's style. The fact is the Wallabies will struggle under Lawrence - the scrum is a lottery, and Lawrence blows against the Wallabies when in doubt. This should cost at least 12 points, given the ability of SA kickers, and number of scrum penalties per match. The wallabies can't adapt to this, the penalties will go against them regardless of what they do. On another point - - if it is ok to fake injuries as Ireland did, it is also ok to fake injuries in order to get uncontested scrums. To test any argument it is valid to take it to the nth degree. You can't be ok with time wasting, but not ok with other forms of cheating - unless of course you are a hypocrite.

Mr O'Brien is a sycophantic worshipper of his prescious AB's who falls over himself kissing AB and IRB ass -he is honour-bound to follow the IRB 'heirachy' of who is 'allowed' to keep on winning . The 'unnamed' scottish team official who said they as well as lesser teams were treated as" pieces of meat " has got it 'spot on'. Scotalnd were 'meant ' to lose to their heirachial "betters" England . It goes like this SH -1 NZ 2 AUS/SOUTH AFRICA-3 ARGENTINA -damn the rest NH -1-ENGLAND 2-FRANCE 3 IRELAND 4-WALES 5-SCOTLAND -damn the rest and theat's how the refs run the game -those highest on the ladders get the penalty count in their favour 9 times out of ten and the rest have to take it from behind and thank the IRB for the experience -but that's all about to change sooner than you think -and be blessed :-)

As a Level 2 Ref I can tell you the Aussies are justified to be angry Where do you ref, George? Australia or abroad?

Fine post, Bob, glad to have some constructive debate rather than Lawrence-bashing. However yours and other observations are based around the Australian viewpoint - your friend is an Australian ref, the comments on Dickinson and other Australian refs being excluded centres on them not fitting the global / NH mould, and from your own comments the interpretation of sealing off of the ball is a phenomena visible in nations other than Australia... So it comes down to interpretation. If Australian referees adjudicate differently from the rest of the world's refs, who's making the 'correct' interpretation? Further extended - if Australian referees are absent from the World Cup because their style of refereeing doesn't match the majority of teams style of playing, OR if - as you've indicated - there is a political bent to the selection process and the Aussie refs have been stricken because they're 'unfriendly' to teams aside from Australia, what's the problem? Australia is the oddity rather than the rule (in a manner of speaking). I guess that's my point; if one side of the coin is 'The Wallabies are the only team not favoured in this tournament' then the opposing side is 'The Wallabies are the only team favoured in this tournament' At what point do you say 'Maybe it's not the world that's crazy, maybe it's me'?

To answer your question, posed to Paddy – Answer “because it is part of the stitch up to help ensure a Northern Hemisphere team played in the final, probably against the ABs”! I came to that conclusion when I saw the panel of referees selected for RWC 2011. My best mate - an ex first class referee in Sydney, who helps coach the up and coming whistle blowers - was so critical of Bryce Lawrence’s performance after the OZ/Ireland game that he opined “he should NOT get another game in this RWC”. After his effort in the USA/OZ game - where he again refereed one side - he just about sent my mate to the ICU. I'll leave it to you to guess which side was refereed in both games. What one must realize was that in the selection of referees for this tournament, ONLY one OZ referee was assessed as "capable" of officiating at this RWC; namely Steve Walsh Junior. Stuart Dickinson didn't get a Guernsey because he referees to the letter of the laws of the game and that would NOT suit any side that continually went off their feet at the breakdown et al. Furthermore, England has never forgiven him for not awarding a try to England in the 2007 RWC final [correct decision]. So the only Aussie referee at this RWC is a NZ “transplanted” to OZ; and this on top of ALL the other NZ whistle blowers already selected. So why are so many NZ referees at this RWC? Apart from the fact that the IRB Director of Referees is a NZ – Paddy O’Brien – could it be he would love to see his country forebears get up over OZ and others, as I would dearly love to see Scotland prevail against all and sundry? Perhaps, but this is highly unlikely. I believe it is because they are acceptable to NZ, Sth Afr, and ALL 6 nation teams. These teams are ALL guilty of continually going off their feet at the majority of breakdowns. Same applies to the Sth Afr whistle blowers. Both these nations 'allow their players to continually offend at the breakdown'. Consequently their referees are conditioned to allow it. O'Brien is just continuing the status quo evident in both countries. Consequently such action/selection ensures that an Nth Hemisphere side has a better than even chance to progress to the final. Is this a payoff for sanctioning such selection prior to and in the RWC? How else can one explain some of the decisions in the Irish game? It is interesting to note a directive was issued AFTER the OZ/Ireland game by the IRB [when the ‘hopeful’ result was achieved] - to speed up the game and do away with time wasting tactics that Ireland used ad-nausea against OZ. Remember what England did against OZ in the 1/4 final in 2007 RWC? It was a replica. Any decent referee would have insisted the game continue via short arm free kicks or penalties. But then, so entrenched is the 'cheating' it is usually a prop that feigns injury at scrum time so the referee has no option but to call time off. He should send the offender to the sideline and call for a replacement. Such actions would certainly focus the offender’s injury into the reality of the moment. I have long advocated for there to be 40 minutes actual playing time with the ball in play each half, to stop this practice – backed up by an expanded interchange of players - but the IRB will never agree to such change as it doesn't suit the main Nth Hemisphere teams [6 Nation teams]. Hopefully it will be enacted when democracy finally catches up with the IRB. Another thing, while on this rant, it is the inconsistency between referees in adjudicating whether an offense is worthy of a yellow card. NZ/Sth Afr whistleblowers can be relied on NOT to award yellow whereas Aussie counterparts will. Perhaps this is another reason we were virtually excluded amongst the referees? Having said that, I have to admit that our referees are off the pace except for Dickinson and the one chosen to adjudicate in the referral box. Since this forum seems to be about referee interpretation/bias let's consider the pods used by the ABs and others where one/two or more binders’ on the ball carrier [around the rucks] deliberately fall over and seal off the ball carrier. It is obviously NOT in the spirit of the game and should be so adjudicated [being a clone of going off one's feet at the breakdown]. The OZ referee who penalised the Force in the final seconds of the game in Perth against the Auckland Blues – when their pod went to ground [as they all do] - was criticized by all and sundry as the Blues kicked a PG and drew a match they did not deserve to draw. Such was the ensuing backlash against the referee that I am led to believe he was instructed by the SANZAR referee coach that he was not to adjudicate in that way again. Where is the consistency there? None - obviously! I've now watched every game at RWC 2011 to date. In my opinion only 3 referees are worth an acceptable tick. They are Steve Walsh Junior [NZ/OZ], Wayne Barnes [England] and Craig Joubert [Sth Afr] - the rest are lamentable. Having said that, Barnes has missed plenty - especially forward passes - [has a weakness there], but perhaps that is the fault of the assistant referees [linesmen]. They should be picked up. However, I have 2 main grouches about referees: one concerns the chasers being onside at the point of impact of foot on ball, while those in front of the kicker advance slowly before being put on-side legally – if at all. The second concerns the dummy runners deliberately taking out or interfering with the defensive line on attack. Usually the ABs do this in pods of 2; the backs in the second alignment. The front line of attack usually consists of forwards and they advance and intermingle with the advancing defenders. They are then used by the second wave as shields around which they will try to breech the defensive line. Sometimes the initial wave is guilty of even holding back the defender. Such practices are nothing more than blocking tactics. The ABs has this down to perfection. Look at their 3rd try [?] against the Canadians in the second half. Begs the question "when will the whistle blowers see it for what it is and so adjudicate"? Having spent huge money going to RWC 2007 I decided that I would not waste such money again going to NZ, to see many games influenced by poor refereeing. Until it improves I will vote with my feet and stay at home. Appears many others feel the same way - as evidenced by all the empty seats at the games in the high priced area. Perhaps that is why I was recently offered up to 8 seats by the ARU for any OZ game - if OZ was in it – during the knockout stage. Top end seats can't be selling well. Mind you at OZ$1060/seat for the final I’m not surprised. But that supposes OZ will make the final – possible, but highly unlikely given the choice of referee for the Wallabies quarter final this week end. This selection means Lawrence will have adjudicated at 75% of RWC 2011 games where OZ was one of the participants. Where are the other referees? Should OZ fluke a win over the Boks, no doubt the semi would be refereed by the incomparable Kaplan. But, assuming OZ bows out again in the quarters, as is most likely, then the Boks would probably be refereed by that Aussie transplant Steve Walsh Jnr in the semi. After all, how could one criticize a NEUTRAL referee in a game between the ABs and Sth Afr? He should get the final as well as he is the best referee of the 3 mentioned above by a proverbial mile. My ACTUAL tips for the quarters: Sth Afr; ABs; Wales and France, with final between Wales and the ABs. Who will take “Bill” home? The team with the least significant injuries from here-on, but I have a slight leaning to Wales. So the best laid plans of mice and men could still come unstuck [due to injuries]. Now that would be real justice in an era when ALL financial markets are rigged! It galls me to select against the Wallabies but I believe they continue to make far too many mistakes and these will come back to haunt them from here-on. The problem areas are: 1] Receipt of the ball at restarts – we butcher far too many and it only takes one to lose a game at this level. 2] Inability to catch the high ball under pressure of chasers, many of whom are off-side or within 10metres when the kick was made and didn’t retire but MOST referees are ignoring this area. They continue to look for a knock on rather than whether the chaser was actually onside from the kick. 3] Effective offensive counter rucking is virtually non-existent. 4] All our goal kickers are unreliable although O’Connor seems to be getting better now that he is not overcooking his address of the ball. I do not include Berrick Barnes among this assessment as I believe he will not be in the starting side [mistake I believe]. 5] Lack of effective chasers when we kick high balls. Far too many chasers take their eyes off the ball in flight. We cannot retrieve the high ball if we don’t watch it. Then again most chasers cannot make an effective tackle when they do get there in-time because they do not watch the catchers hips to determine which way he will go. Elementary I know, but they continue to fall for the fake pass. 6] Most runners are erect with ball in hand and too easily isolated or held up resulting in turnovers. Probably contributed to OZ losing the Irish game. 7] On wet greasy fields – as Wellington is likely to be – we must wear longer studs on our boots. Example Burgess fell over and spilt the ball without a hand being laid on him after a brilliant 30 metre run. An opposition try resulted from the spill. Invariably when our runners fall over, when not under real pressure, it results in a turnover or penalty against us. 8] The scrum is PERCEIVED to be weak, whether it is or not. Oh for a fully fit Ben Robinson! The opposition scrums usually fail to pack straight on, props bore in on the hooker OR props fail to get an adequate bind on the opposition as the extremely tight fitting jerseys don’t allow it. The IRB should force ALL players to wear identically made looser fitting jerseys so forwards can bind much better in the scrum. Flankers appear to strip off the side before the ball is out. They should be forced to keep their shoulder engaged until the ball leaves the scrum. Little things but they add up. 9] Lineout throwers are poor, especially to the back of the lineout. Ball security is paramount so small numbers in the line-out may be the way to go. Secure possession and go from there. 10] When we have backline overlaps we need VISION to get it wide as quickly as possible making sure the defenders are not allowed to drift and shut us down. Usually plodding forwards bash it up and waste the moment. Intercepts must not be allowed against us – aka Russia. 11] Lack of support runners when a line break is made. Plenty of cheerers – not enough support runners. Notice how England ex league winger miraculously appears in the ball runner’s hip pocket when a line break occurs. Usually results in a try. IF the Wallabies can address all of these short comings and eliminate them from their performance they can indeed win the RWC. But can they? I HOPE SO – OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE ON THE WAY HOME EARLY NEXT WEEK.

I'm wrong George?!? Unless you're Bryce Lawrence himself, how can you POSSIBLY know he "has pre-conceived opinions on the Aussie scrum". And I'm not too sure you've read my comments clearly, either. I know he's had a less than impressive tournament, and I understand why all these concern have been raised. My whole point in this is that there is no point going on about it, because come Sunday, guess who'll be blowing the whistle?!? It doesn't matter even if he gets things wrong, the point is, if the Wallabies don't adapt to him on the day, then they'll be on the flight home on Monday. It's that simple. More's the point, I don't care how he's reffed in the past. The past means nothing on Sunday. Control the things we can control, forget about the variables.

Spikhaza, there's no need to apologise at all, even if it's perfectly obvious that I'm in the minority here not wanting to let the referee become a factor. Everything you wrote happened, there's no denying that; my point is just that if the Wallabies go into the game with the type of concerns that plenty of us are expressing here, there's really not a lot of point playing the game. The first team to adapt to the whistle wins the game...

Brett McKay, you are wrong. As a Level 2 Ref I can tell you the Aussies are justified to be angry at Lawrence's appointment as he has pre-conceived opinions on the Aussie scrum and his decisions around the scrum & ruck are very perplexing. The Aussies got some very tough calls in the Irish & Russian games. The Aussie front rowers were totally confused as to his calls and I do not blame them. The Aussie coaches are far too weak to question the IRB ref appointments panel. Wayne Barnes is an excellent Ref and he should have received the Aust/SA game. I concur with Spiro Zavos's article on this matter - he is spot on. Anyway the Ref appointment is made but I firmly believe that the ARU should lodge an official complaint.The NZRU did such with a world's best ref in the Aussie Stu Dickinson so I cannot see why we cannot do the same about Lawrence. Bryce Lawrence is a terrible Ref you just have to see how poor his form was in the Super 15 plus his penalty count in a game is to one sided. I question his objectivity as a referee.

censorship alive and well on the roar?

Brett, I think you're confusing "Style" with "Bias". You can't adapt to bias.

There is never an unfair penalty count against the All Blacks. The penaly count against them is always perfectly fair.

"intentional 16th man by England in 2003" Intentional? I don't think it's ever been shown that it was anything other than an accident.

you would need to have some substance before the game ie the specific ref and a track record of bias / poor decision making against the AB's. I do know it does come natural for AB supporters to think the only time they lose its because they were robbed!

The ploy of going to non contested scrums was tongue in cheek by me. For multiple reasons. First I do abhor the constant (and escalating) cheating tactics that occur. In the beginning of rugby there was no such thing as a penalty and players were expected to abide by the laws in a gentlemans agreement. Of course one thing leads to another and then you need refs and penalties. It is now so prevalent that it is accepted as part of rugby. The escalation continues to the blood pellets you mentioned, to the intentional 16th man by England in 2003 and the ball switching by England this world cup. We also see teams not just cheating but milking penalties alah Soccer. In scrums they milk penalties and in taking dives after glancing contact after a ball is kicked / passed. IMO the ploy I mentioned could easily be used by a ruthless team like England in the next few cups with the way the game is going. The second reason I am against the ploy is that I actually enjoy the scrum contest and do not view it as just a mechanism to restart the game but as an attacking weapon in itself.

Single response to the above and below: Faking injuries is not cheating according to many posters and fans. We're not talking about Irish players taking a knee so the forwards can catch their breath. This is at the other end of the 'faking injuries' table, right up there with fake blood pellets. You're talking about two people intentionally simulating injuries, in succession, in order to remove one component of the game to the opposition's detriment. BTW I have NEVER said McCaw is the worst thing to happen to rugby, I have never even said he is bad to rugby. Withdrawn with apologies, you are correct. Your comments reflect on his success as a cheat and the inappropriateness of cheating in rugby, but not on his worth as a player. Apologies. why is cheating that you like ie the way AB’s do it fine but other forms of taking advanatge of the rules or bending them as people say euphimistically terrible. Simply - the scope of the effect and the manipulation of a safety rule. McCaw, Read's and Kaino's 'whoops, did I just lie on top of the ruck from an offside position' tactics are widespread amongst other teams and they can be penalised for it. They are, frequently. And we see it performed by South Africa, Ireland, Australia - see the Samoa / South Africa match for classic examples. It's a tactic. What you're mandating by depowered scrums through faked injury is taking an entire attacking and strategic option out of the game, without risk from the depowering side. It also takes advantage of what is in essence a rule that ensures safety and parity during a high-risk part of the game. The underlying intent is the disturbing one. 'We think the ref's not fair, so we're going to remove the part of the game that disadvantages us". I appreciate this was made as an off-the-cuff comment, but if you ever wanted to bring down the wrath of the Australian sporting public to a national representative team, this would be a pretty effective method.

Adapt to the whistle or pack your bags - that goes for all teams, not just the Wannabies