Secondly, that weekend Dickinson’s performance was probably more solid than Jonathan Kaplan’s performance in Ireland.

Thirdly for O’Brien to come out and single handedly to point the finger at Dickinson when Lawrence’s scrum performance was far from immaculate, when O’Brien said his performance was fantastic yet Lawrence apologies for his mistakes.

Lawrence tends to get frustrated a lot which is his real weakness. He would have died if he was refereeing the ’07 RWC final when that Cueto no try was referred to Dickinson. You saw it in Tokyo when Peter Hynes scored in the corner. He told the TMO to have it cancelled and furthermore awarded the try, which I still am not sure if it was a try or not. Honestly not sure at all if he got it or not.

I do support the referees thoroughly I would like to point out. I referee myself, and have knowledge of the laws and all. I like most of the referees on the panel I just am bewildered by some of Paddy O’Brien’s decisions.

Rod Kafer showed some genuine insights with his slow-motion analysis on the Australian Rugby TV Show (with Kearns, etc) following the match. He showed exactly what was going on on Baxter’s side of the scrum but fell short of bagging the ref. He just explained that Woodcock was getting the better of him, forcing him into some bad positions.

I think a similar thing happened in Milan – Tialata was getting outclassed by some impressive scrummaging by the Italians – and Dickinson got it right. Martin Castrogiovanni and co are world class and week in-week out deliver excellent scrummaging performances.
[The Beast is nowhere near as effective when he is forced to hit straight and stay straight]

I felt the Italians were harshly penalised at scrum time in the NZ-based match earlier in the year.

I can’t work out why – in the professional era – referees are not getting detailed analysis and advice from some of the best, most experienced props who are just out of the game.

When you’ve been in the front row for numerous years, you get a feel for what’s going on.

Cheers,

Chief

I agree about Lawrence. I should also add that he’s an OK guy – just not that good a ref!

I am not as familiar with Australian refs, Scott Young and Cole as I am with the greats – Peter Marshall and Wayne Erickson (mustache!). Both had real personality and the players respected them.
I was always pleased to see Erickson in the middle when the All Blacks were playing.

Northern Hemisphere interpretations at that time had a tendency to come across as pedantic and not aligned to the spectacle of the game.

I saw Nathan Pierce referee the Bay of Plenty in this year’s NPC and quite liked him (http://craprefs.com/2009/09/18/npc-bop-v-tasman-bay-upset-again-by-tmo/). I just thought his interpretation of the breakdown contest was swayed a little more to the team in possession (similar to the Northern Hemisphere and not necessarily a bad thing) but he was consistent and fair-handed in often trying circumstances.

In fact the way the Northern Hemisphere adjudicates the breakdown contest could provide some hope to what in New Zealand is often a bit of a raffle.

Lawrence is to nice, he tries to make friends on the rugby field when he is really a referee. Apologising to Phil Vickery, joking with the English players on the rugby field. It certainly can at times come across as unfair, especially in pressure zone situations. He struggles with the appointments he gets but he continues to get better ones. That’s what I must question.

I always thought Kelvin Deaker was one of the better refs. But it seems he was given the flick by the IRB. Australia lost about 4 good referees pretty much all at once (Scott Young, Cole, Marshall, Erickson). That happened about 3 years ago and now the ARU are really struggling with depth. As we now only have Dickinson and Walsh. But now have the likes of Pearce, Smith and Marks who are developing.

In terms of the actions that saw him leave NZ, everyone should get a second chance and hopefully he now has a wealth of life-lessons to bring to his performances so good luck to him.

I like Kaplan and pretty much forgive him anything (rightly or wrongly, probably wrongly). I also like Rolland, I’ve watched him a lot in the past 6 months and think him fair, even and with the right character for the job.

Wayne Barnes is pretty good also.

I think the game in the Northern Hemisphere is in great shape and that is echoed in their refereeing (and law interpretations which seem to enhance continuity more than in the South).

Bryce Lawrence has certainly prospered because of his father’s position. There’s no way anyone should have gotten away with his performances in the South Africa v Lions series.

I struggle to give him much credit having known him for a decade and been on the wrong side of his school teacher approach (wanting to be liked, etc). That’s probably not fair any more but old habits …

That said, with Lyndon Bray, Kelvin Deaker and Steve Walsh all out of the picture in relatively quick succession, it left a gaping whole in refereeing talent in NZ. I’m hopeful that there are some good refs in the making among the new bunch (http://craprefs.com/2009/10/31/new-zealands-npc-refs-have-improved-over-the-season/).

One must question though Dickinson’s performance in the final British and Irish Lions game was probably in the top 3 international refereeing performances of the year. He has pretty much been dropped while Kaplan’s ordinary performance in Ireland and in England has still allowed him to secure 2 appointments in the 6 nations.

I like Kaplan and I think he’s a top referee. But it just stuns me that these things seem to go unpunished for him securing top appointments.

I respect Bryce Lawrence for giving it a go. But he’s not up to International standards in my opinion. I feel that he is on the panel simply because of his father, well it at least has something to do with it. The Schalk Burger eye gouge incident pretty much sums up that his mental ability is not up to the likes of Stu Dickinson and Wayne Barnes and JK who would straight up recommend a Red Card.

Steve Walsh being back provides a bit of fresh air to rugby viewers, as he could very well secure the RWC final if NZ in the odd chance don’t make it. Wayne Barnes, JK, Rolland and Steve Walsh seem to be at the top of the IRB referee panels.

I must compliment Matt Goddard’s service to the ELV’s. Team’s were using the free kick option far too many times and especially when potential tries could have been scored there was no reward for them. Matt Goddard went about ensuring quick and productive ball was ensured for both teams. Sadly both teams had been used to slowing the ball down so they didn’t adjust to Goddard’s refereeing. However I did not approve of Goddard’s comment of “Do not slow my ball down.” That was inappropriate. And I thought Lyndon Bray’s criticism of him was completely out of order, considering his game was consistent and fair. Which had not been the trend in the Super 14 for that year.

Goddard has now retired due to a injury. He will however be heard in the TMO box.

As for the World Cup it would seem that 10 referees will be chosen limited from 12 like previous years.

Chief.