In news unlikely to disappoint anyone not from the land of the long white cloud, the IRB’s parochial refereeing manager, Paddy O’Brien, has stepped down from his position to focus on Sevens rugby. The international body has also announced changes to its top refereeing panel.
Out of favour go two referees that for varying reasons have raised the hackles – Kiwi Bryce Lawrence, whose cack-handed officiating during South Africa’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Australia blurred the line between ineptitude and cheating to such an extent that nobody could separate the two, has lost his spot on the panel, as has South Africa’s Mark Lawrence. The latter, who is related to Bryce only in the standard of their refereeing, started out as one of South Africa’s finest, but has over time moved towards a detached, even arrogant, style of officiating that seems to get everyone’s backs up. It would, I guess, be understandable if he actually got his calls right, but I fear that’s hardly the case these days.
There’s a real down side to Mark Lawrence’s demotion, though – if he’s not blowing high profile tests, I guess we’ll see that much more of him in the Currie Cup. Oh joy!
Excellent up-and-coming local ref Jaco Peyper has made the elite panel for the first time. The new panel comprises George Clancy (Ireland), Jérôme Garcès (France), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Romain Poite (France), Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Steve Walsh (Australia).
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Didn’t Mark Lawrence retire from International Rugby at the end of last year so he could focus on training new referees?
Paddy being out means that the All Blacks defence of the world cup will really be in doubt in 2015.
Mark Lawrence was not demoted, he retired from international Rugby around the time of the RWC.
In the IRB Match official appointments for MAY JUNE of this year, Wayne Barnes and Marius Jonker are both officiating. Stuart Berry is named as AR1 for Canada vs Georgia on the 23rd June. Bryce Lawrence is not on the list. (Thank goodness for small mercies!)
Why steve walsh australia, he is a new zealand boytjie
@BoerSeun (Comment 4) : When he had the drinking problem he was fired by the NZRU. He then sorted himself out and joined the ARU. So although he is a Kiwi he is employed by the ARU.
It’s Kaplan that got axed…
😈 Deysel will be a welcome addition, but the team must get their heads in the right space and cut out the silly mistakes. Let hope it was jet lag hampering the youngsters. Positive week Sharkies! 😈
Alternative heading for this article: “Chops get the chop” 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : oh trust me… I seriously considered that one 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 9) :