Bryce Lawrence axed...

Since Biltong hasn't posted this yet

International Rugby Board referees boss Paddy O’Brien has stepped down with immediate effect and New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence has been dropped from the international panel as rugby’s controlling body announced its changes for the June test window.

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/international/news/120324/Lawrence_axed_OBrien_steps_down

I think Biltong is off somewhere dancing with joy. Or he is on the next plane with a crossbow to make sure Bryce doesn't ref again.

O'Brien was shifted "sideways" (he's managing the 7s circuit refs now) back in March - oops, just realised FerN's article is from March )

Not really surprising, Paddy was promoted beyond his level of competence, while Bryce is a superb example of the dangers of nepotism (his father was a handy ref, and is the NZRU referees manager)

All for the best in my opinion

Bryce Lawrence is dropped from the referees in preparation to take the post of IRB referee chief, believe it or not.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Bryce Lawrence is dropped from the referees in preparation to take the post of IRB referee chief, believe it or not.

Kiwireddevil wrote:O'Brien was shifted "sideways" (he's managing the 7s circuit refs now) back in March - oops, just realised FerN's article is from March )

Not really surprising, Paddy was promoted beyond his level of competence, while Bryce is a superb example of the dangers of nepotism (his father was a handy ref, and is the NZRU referees manager)

Here then for a more up to date article

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Lawrences-Test-career-over-20120725

He was dropped from the Elite Panel, Like Wayne Barnes. Does it mean his career is over though? Can he do a steve Walsh and come back refereeing for South Africa?

I have turned a new leaf, as I said earlier in the week.

We planned to lose that QF, we didn't want to face the all Blacks as it was their turn to win the RWC, we didn't want to face a situation where he had to deleiberately lose against them in the Semi final, they are a proud nation and we wanted them to win.

We deliberately alllowed Pocock to come offside and to kick the ball through to his backs, even with that gift try we still had to get Danie Rossouw to interfere in the line out to give the Ozzies the chance to kick to posts.

Brycie is my friend, he had no part to play, we in fact asked him to give Pocock free regin at the rucks to ensure it looked more "authentic" at the rucks, we did stuff it up a bit though and didn't give enough forward passes and our possession stats does seem to have given it away a bit.

Can we not get some way of kicking that Kiwi turned Aussie Steve Walsh in to touch aswell....

FerN wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:O'Brien was shifted "sideways" (he's managing the 7s circuit refs now) back in March - oops, just realised FerN's article is from March )

Not really surprising, Paddy was promoted beyond his level of competence, while Bryce is a superb example of the dangers of nepotism (his father was a handy ref, and is the NZRU referees manager)

Here then for a more up to date article

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Lawrences-Test-career-over-20120725

"Rehabilitated" sounds a bit sinister. Is there a special SANZAR Referee Rehabilitation Complex? Can you hear the screams?

Carpe Diem wrote:

FerN wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:O'Brien was shifted "sideways" (he's managing the 7s circuit refs now) back in March - oops, just realised FerN's article is from March )

Not really surprising, Paddy was promoted beyond his level of competence, while Bryce is a superb example of the dangers of nepotism (his father was a handy ref, and is the NZRU referees manager)

Here then for a more up to date article

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Lawrences-Test-career-over-20120725

"Rehabilitated" sounds a bit sinister. Is there a special SANZAR Referee Rehabilitation Complex? Can you hear the screams?

The rehab centre is in an underground facility near the Drakensberg Mountains, I am the Head of rehabilitation there...... Darn, now everyone knows my secret.

Anyhoo, our methods are a bit antiquated.

biltongbek wrote:I have turned a new leaf, as I said earlier in the week.

We planned to lose that QF, we didn't want to face the all Blacks as it was their turn to win the RWC and we didn't want to face a situation where he had to deliberately poison them again.

Phew, thats better

eirebilly wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I have turned a new leaf, as I said earlier in the week.

We planned to lose that QF, we didn't want to face the all Blacks as it was their turn to win the RWC and we didn't want to face a situation where he had to deliberately poison them again.

Phew, thats better

You sneaky so and so.

biltongbek wrote:

Carpe Diem wrote:

FerN wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:O'Brien was shifted "sideways" (he's managing the 7s circuit refs now) back in March - oops, just realised FerN's article is from March )

Not really surprising, Paddy was promoted beyond his level of competence, while Bryce is a superb example of the dangers of nepotism (his father was a handy ref, and is the NZRU referees manager)

Here then for a more up to date article

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Lawrences-Test-career-over-20120725

"Rehabilitated" sounds a bit sinister. Is there a special SANZAR Referee Rehabilitation Complex? Can you hear the screams?

The rehab centre is in an underground facility near the Drakensberg Mountains, I am the Head of rehabilitation there...... Darn, now everyone knows my secret.

Anyhoo, our methods are a bit antiquated.

The Biltong bokke Mafia rules,one down more to go Craig Joubert be cause he robbed France[allegedly].Walsh Because England don`t like him,Wayne Barnes because he is a total incompetemnt[allegdly] and on and on. amen.

emack2 wrote:The Biltong bokke Mafia rules,one down more to go Craig Joubert be cause he robbed France[allegedly].Walsh Because England don`t like him,Wayne Barnes because he is a total incompetemnt[allegdly] and on and on. amen.

Who is left then?

Yahoo!
Yahoo!

Celebrate good times
come on ! - Let's celebrate

Celebrate good times
come on ! - Let's celebrate


There's a party going on right here
a celebration to last troughout the years.
So bring your good times and your laughter
too
we're gonna celebrate your party with you !

Come on now

celebration

let's all celebrate and have a good time

celebration
we go celebrate and have a good time.

he doesn't come to Europe

He might improve the standard of Refs in the Rabo!

They're not that bad!... well actually...

HERSH wrote:He might improve the standard of Refs in the Rabo!

I believe Barnes has already been kicked out!

biltongbek wrote:I have turned a new leaf, as I said earlier in the week.

We planned to lose that QF, we didn't want to face the all Blacks as it was their turn to win the RWC, we didn't want to face a situation where he had to deleiberately lose against them in the Semi final, they are a proud nation and we wanted them to win.

We deliberately alllowed Pocock to come offside and to kick the ball through to his backs, even with that gift try we still had to get Danie Rossouw to interfere in the line out to give the Ozzies the chance to kick to posts.

Brycie is my friend, he had no part to play, we in fact asked him to give Pocock free regin at the rucks to ensure it looked more "authentic" at the rucks, we did stuff it up a bit though and didn't give enough forward passes and our possession stats does seem to have given it away a bit.

Wouldn't have made the slightest bit of difference biltong. We learned from 2007 that you MUST have a plan B.

So we did. Luckily plan A worked though. I mean if bryce didn't work the seafood was already ordered for your lot anyway

We didn't want to take the Chance Taylorman.

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/167395.html

The IRB has issued all major media outlets, as well as all professional rugby organisations worldwide, with a DVD highlighting over 2,000 examples of technically perfect refereeing decisions being criticised not only by players during the match but also for days afterwards in the press.

"Since the game went professional in 1995 this kind of thing has gotten a lot worse," said Fields. "Rugby has become a little more like soccer in its sensationalism and public whinging and moaning by supposedly wronged parties. The respect for the referee, once a shining beacon at the heart of our great game's core, has eroded. So we've decided: 'sod it'. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. From now on we want our officials to criticise players and, where appropriate, mock them for their mistakes. The gloves are off. Now let's see how they like it when they are on the receiving end."

From now on we want our officials to criticise players and, where appropriate, mock them for their mistakes. The gloves are off

Brill!!!!

When I saw the thread title, I had visions of a rather large South African answering to the screen name Biltongbek trying to surreptitiously hide a bloodied chopper behind his back...

Can we not get some way of kicking that Kiwi turned Aussie Steve Walsh in to touch aswell....

Dunno about that Geordie I was rather impressed by the way he reffed the first and third tests this summer (SA vs Eng). He seems to have improved an awful lot and their was a marked difference between the quality of the officiating in those two tests and the second test when the fool Rolland was given the whistle.

dummy_half wrote:When I saw the thread title, I had visions of a rather large South African answering to the screen name Biltongbek trying to surreptitiously hide a bloodied chopper behind his back...

I prefer my bare hands mate, but then I don't condone violence.

No,it was a plate of Shellfish

I liked the way Bryce Lawrence used to send Biltong into a meltdown. Going to miss him for that

I thought I handled it rather well.

You did biltong, never once read an anti Bryce Lawrence rant from you

Thanks billy. It was hard to hold back, but I managed to bite my tongue.

biltongbek wrote:I thought I handled it rather well.

Isnt that was Bruce said after the game?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I thought I handled it rather well.

Isnt that was Bruce said after the game?

He went into hiding I am told by reliable resources. Never did make any public statements.

To be fair Lawrence has admitted he made mistakes and could have done better. E.g. this is from the AB's site:

“The criticism didn't hurt me that much because I know I didn't referee as well as I should have,” Lawrence said.

"I took a plan of not being overly technical into that game and possibly that was not the right plan."

"To then get to my biggest game and not referee anywhere near as well, I let myself down and I also let the team down. We were trying to pride ourselves on consistent performances so I felt I'd let them down."

How often does this happen. I'm not sure I can remember many referees coming out publicly, saying they could have done better. Bryce isn't my favorite ref and I think he struggles in the big games (I think he was poor in last years super 15 final) and I'm not unhappy he's been deomted. However, he's only one of a number of referees who have struggled with Pocock like tactics at the breakdown. The list includes European and South African referees.

The problem is there is a lot going on in the breakdown and we all get upset when we feel that it hasn't gone our way. For instance Pocock, like many other players pushes the laws and is very effective at it. Ironically, Brusow is a player with many similar traits. No one criticized OBrien in the last series against NZ and yet his work at the breakdown is often borderline at best (i.e. IMO he is often technically off his feet when competing for the ball, giving him an advantage over more upright players, assuming the law is still the same). Does the fact that Owens and Poite failed to penalise him mean they are poor referees or biased?

Always feels good to have a mid morning rant.....

biltongbek wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I thought I handled it rather well.

Isnt that was Bruce said after the game?

He went into hiding I am told by reliable resources. Never did make any public statements.

Yes it is sad when someone who make a contrite apology and admit he was not good enough is crucified and other referees who repeatedly are not good enough just barnes on and keep messing it up and it take waynes years to get rid of them finally.

"I took a plan of not being overly technical into that game and possibly that was not the right plan."

Sounds like an admission that he's a bit clueless as to the laws but doesn't think it should be an obstacle to reffing.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Yes it is sad when someone who make a contrite apology and admit he was not good enough is crucified and other referees who repeatedly are not good enough just barnes on and keep messing it up and it take waynes years to get rid of them finally.

Your mask is definitely slipping!

I prefer to think AWOP is objective. He's just commentating on the world record holder Wayne Barnes, holder of the award for awarding the lowest penalty count awarded against one team in an international match.

Some clever dick changing my post.