Is Wayne Barnes the man to referee the World Cup Final?
Wayne Barnes let the game flow. He allowed defensive teams an opportunity at the ball in tackles and allowed attacking teams time to recycle their own. He required tacklers to release the tackled player and he did not use the whistle to establish his presence like so many referees do in a high intensity international.
The only obvious issue was the TMO’s ‘inconclusive’ call that lead to a Wallaby scrum.
There was a knee at a ruck but that appears to have been sorted by the citing & judicial process.
Bottom line: Wayne Barnes is ready for the World Cup and is a real prospect to adjudicate the final
Tags: Wayne BarnesPosted in International Rugby | 4 Comments »
After his terrible performance in the ’07 France/New Zealand quarter Finals game, Wayne Barnes officiating career would’ve been over and done with if I was a part of the IRB.
I honestly feel Wayne Barnes has come back very well after 2007. Shown a bit of grit.
Surely he deserves a second chance. Seems to have worked for Steve Walsh.
I rate Barnes a lot higher than Bryce Lawrence.
I like his low impact refereeing style.
Wales were robbed – no question. But linesmen Clancy and Munro have more to answer for there than Barnes.
Barnes won’t be able to ref the final, he’s English. It’s going to have to be a neutral ref.
@jonnyboy71 why would Barnes being English have any baring. English aren’t even in the semis let alone the final.