Paddy O’Brien is not happy with Bob Dwyer.
Paddy O’Brien, the IRB’s Kiwi head of refereeing is thinking of taking legal action if he does not get a public apology from former Australia coach Bob Dwyer. Dwyer accused O’Brien of favouring the All Blacks.
Dwyer is on record saying that he (O’Brien) only takes his match officials to task on their performances if it favours New Zealand. He did this after the Italian national team hammered the All Blacks in Itialy last season.
For the record the number of penalties given against each team in the Tri Nations thusfar is All Blacks 34 (12+9+13), Springboks 24 (5+9+10), Australia 18 (7+11).

From all the bitching about the bias in the Tri-Nations i am quite shocked to see that the Kiwis HAVE actually been penalised the most.
Its because we and now the Aussies are on the losing sides. ‘Bad Losers’ comes to mind 😳
NZ is playing great rugby at this stage and if we manage to beat them at Soweto it’ll be a miracle.
I see PdV’s Sanzar hearing is today. I wonder what metaphors is he going to come up with this time. 🙂
Good luck Coach.
@KSA:
The number of penalties proves the point in a way – despite being penalised so many times, nary a card in sight.
@Big Fish (Comment 4) : Yep, we have transgressed with foul play and deserved our yellow cards, but the slowing down of the ball should be consistent and we have been pinged big time for it… There were also bits of dirty stuff that went unpunished (NZ), there is so much ego and political mish mash at the top of Rugby that it leaves a sour taste in the mouth of the fan.
Please note that when I refer to politics here, I mean the agendas and dynamics of the administrators… Politics is policy, decision, interaction, implementation etc.
Paddy ‘O Brien has been shown up, and is clearly flawed in his implementation and should be less egocentric and more pragmatic. SH refs for SH competitions – NH refs for NH competitions, global tournaments the best refs of both hemispheres administrated by one set of rules. The rules should be made simpler at contact points i.e. Rucks etc and the ref should be consistent, the things Richard McCaw gets away with is incredible, he is the master of the professional foul, I respect, but expect all teams to have a talisman like that who can get away with murder… The lines of obstruction the Kiwis use is also cynical, how they manage that without consequence baffles…
I am not whinging, the AB’s are playing superior rugby, but win or lose, we need consistency and less drama from administrators, and less zealots with the red and yellow card disco… There is a rythym to their beat (take 10 steps back, walk a little forward, then get turned around, thats what its all about, you do the hokey pokey and get cited by Commish, and thats when your team gets dished) whatever…
@Big Fish (Comment 4) : Exactly, Bakkies, BJ and Mitchell were all carded for repeated infringements while King Richie receives 8 final warnings per game. The King won the IRB player of the year last year despite playing only half a season and being owned by Brussouw the other half. What are the odds on him NOT repeating this year?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 6) : It is what it is. Fourie Du Preez at that time was the worlds best RUGBY player, whereas Richie was the worlds best player, read between the lines… Brussouw had a stellar season too, we need to accept that we have isolated ourselves in the boardrooms, and every time we (SARU) open our mouths we shoot the team, the players, the fans in the foot… We are outnumbered and isolated in the IRB setup. But lets steer away from that, it is Friday.
Like you said DD, Paddy is not hearing any criticism, and I doubt anything will change.
Pablo, this is not a new thing: Richie has built his career on the ability to get away with murder. Again, I’m not expecting that ti change.
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 7) : Unfortunately a great deal of the isolation has been to our own stupidity in the boardroom, and cant just be blamed on others. @Big Fish (Comment 8) : Oh i agree, nothing will change and he will continue to get away with murder. He remains a very good player too, but as the Aussies once pointed out, its seems that if you have blond hair (Schalk) or dreds (George Smith) you cant pull a Richie and get away with it (although these days I wish Schalk wasnt on the field to make this an issue).
@Big Fish (Comment 8) : How long is he permitted to be Chief of Refs at IRB, surely not a permanent post? It cannot be, if it is, I will be most unpleased. It should be a revolving position of 4 years (see democracy) – candidates get nominated and voted for – BY THE FANS… (consumer is king)
Pablo, not sure if I expressed myself well: was trying to say that Paddy and Richie are pretty much untouchable – the system is screwed up.
DD, not sure – but seems like he has been there for waaaay too long. But I agree that the Kiwis are poised for the greatest choke since Hitler invaded Russia.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : well that actually indicates there is a problem that the all blacks have the most penalties against them but the least cards. it shows the all blacks get a lot more leniancy.
@try time (Comment 12) : this has been the biggest gripe by the boks and the aussies. the kiwis are getting away with offences more than the opposition.
@Big Fish (Comment 4) : That’s what I was going to say. 🙂
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 5) : In an interview with McCaw he admitted to purposefully offending at the rucks, he said, because he got away with it and the ref allowed it, he kept doing it. He said this after the Boks last game against them. 😐
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : Agreed
@Big Fish (Comment 4) :
VERY good point, didn’t look at it that way.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) :
Did Paddy send your those stats?? 😈
Two yellow cards for the Boks was for ruck offenses, both as I recall first time offenders too.
McCaw gets 5 penalties in one game and nadda, niks…
Danie gets a yellow for a nudge with his leg…
Ranger – nothing for a no-arms dangerous tackle…
The only two deserved yellows would be the tip-tackles, and even there Jean’s is harsh but at least they were consistent.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 9) :
Paddy se ma se Earl!! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 20) : En se pa se Jorrie
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 21) :
😆
@wpw (Comment 18) :
R365 gave em to me. 😉
Paddy should shut his cake hole.
Gaan sè vir Paddy daars vis
@BoetaC (Comment 25) : 😆 😀
Well if i was him i won’t 👿 there are some refs that go way out to hurt other teams 😳
@Jarson (Comment 2) :
Soccer City is not in Soweto Mr…it is in Nasrec (the far eastern side of Nasrec)…The closest far eastern corner of Soweto is about 7/8 KM from Soccer City…it is in the outskirts of the JHB CBD…a 3/4 min BRT ride from the center of the CBD…