Bryce fears for safety in SA
16 Nov 2011
Bryce Lawrence says he won’t officiate in South Africa next season if his personal safety is under threat.
Since Lawrence’s controversial performance in the Wallabies’ 11-9 quarter-final win over the Springboks at the World Cup, the Kiwi referee has been critcized for his handling of the breakdown by South African players, fans and media.
Retired Springbok captain John Smit said: ‘The one positive of retirement is that I won’t ever have to be reffed by him again’. Even Saru manager of referees Andre Watson slammed Lawrence’s performance, saying the New Zealander won’t officiate at a future World Cup as he would be severely admonished by the IRB.
A Facebook campaign titled ‘Petition To Stop Bryce Lawrence Ever Reffing A Rugby Game Again’ set up a platform for public abuse to be directed at Lawrence, while 94.7 Highveld Stereo radio station’s Darren ‘Whackhead’ Simpson has claimed to have prank called him in the middle of the night.
Speaking to Tony Veitch on Radiosport, Lawrence said he is aware of the threat of refereeing in South Africa during Super Rugby next year.
‘I’m not totally concerned. I know a lot of other people like the New Zealand Rugby Union and SANZAR do have some serious concerns,’ Lawrence said. ‘In all honesty, I’m not going to go over there if there’s any personal threat or I have concerns about my safety because in the end it’s a job. I know that, and also it’s just a sport so I’m not going to put myself at risk.’
‘I refereed the [Super Rugby] final last year,’ he continued. ‘I’ve refereed a lot of play-off games so that level is something I’m more than capable of refereeing. I’ll referee South African teams in Super Rugby, it may be in Australia or New Zealand that I referee them and I’m sure the criticism will resurface every time I do referee them.’
Lawrence admitted that he always thinks back to his performance in the Wallabies/Bok quarter-final fixture.
‘It hasn’t been the greatest four or six weeks of my life…in all honesty there isn’t a day goes by even now that I don’t think about what I could have done better and how it’s affecting me and what it means for me going forward. It’s still very fresh and probably pretty raw really,’ he said.
‘I was disappointed with some aspects in my own performance that day after refereeing four really pretty strong games in pool play. I’m not blaming anyone for the quarterfinal refereeing display apart from myself. I didn’t referee as well as I could.
‘I was pretty relaxed going into that game, and Australia/South Africa I have refereed numerous times in the last few years at Tri-Nations level so the game didn’t scare me or concern me. I just think I went away from what I’m best at. I’m best when I’m pretty decisive and reasonably technical and tactical – and I just went too much down the tactical side of things where I was really trying to minimise making technical errors.
‘I got criticised heavily and some of that I accept because I know I could have done better.’
Lawrence added that he has been punished by being left out of the Six Nations.
‘Look, there have been some pretty clear consequences from my quarterfinal display. I’m not going to be refereeing Six Nations next year, they can say that means I’m rested but in reality I accept that one of the consequences of my performance is that I’m not going to be doing Six Nations.
‘That’s disappointing from a personal level but also something that I probably support. Referees often get criticised and not held accountable – well I’m clearly being held accountable I’m not refereeing Six Nations.’
Meanwhile, Sanzar CEO Greg Peters told Eyewitness News they have not expressed any concerns regarding Lawrence’s safety in South Africa. Peters explained that he consulted their legal advisors and said the Lawrence safety saga has not been discussed within Sanzar.
395 Comments
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16 Nov 2011, 12:08 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-250: No, he doesn’t think he can go 48 hours in the country without looking anyone in the eye.
16 Nov 2011, 12:09 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-249:
@rangerman(rangerman)-244:
Looking forward to seeing Whitehead at 13. Good distributor of the ball, certainly quick enough, little bit like Snakey Smith ito his pace actually. Quicker than he looks.
And I reckon Bosman will still be at 12 next season. hopefully with Oupa finally out the way, he can reproduce some of his 2010 form.
16 Nov 2011, 12:12 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-251:
He is the logical successor to Paddy for the IRB top reffing job, Paddy will be securing lines of credit as we speak, the bribes he’ll have to pay for this money will dwarf the one he paid to Joubert.
16 Nov 2011, 12:12 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-251:
indeed.
the cheating naaier is going to need a labrador for his visit to the republic.
with any luck the lab will ref the game for him.
16 Nov 2011, 12:13 pm
Pierre Spies has been awarded the Bulls captaincy while Wynand Olivier has been named as his deputy.
16 Nov 2011, 12:16 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-254: Apparently he’s been downgraded to an untrainable American Pitbul.
16 Nov 2011, 12:17 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-253: Are you willing to repeat this staement in the presence of my attorney?
16 Nov 2011, 12:20 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-256:
well from each according to their means to each according to their ability.
let’s hope that the pittie nabs the bollock that isn’t in Paddy O’Briens handbag.
@Finfan(Finfan)-257:
China was just joking about the lawyers.
Think of it as a cry for attention.
16 Nov 2011, 12:25 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-249: With Freddie leaving in June this year we must rather leave him on the bench. Need to play our own. Lambie must be our number one fh. Freddie can cover fh and sh.
We need to think of Pat’s future with the Boks as well. If he don’t play fh then he has to play fb. Not inside centre. Remember Frans Steyn will always get that position for Boks he SA best there. For the Sharks we need to start our youngsters now. Jordaan should start at 12. Also Lindeque should be in the S15 squad.
16 Nov 2011, 12:27 pm
Piet Van Zyl will have a picture of Brycie stuck to his dart board, take care Brycie its a jungle out there.
16 Nov 2011, 12:29 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-255: Somehow thought it was going to be Chiliboy.
Though did read a Bulls Supporter on Sharksworld yesterday say it was going to be Spies.
Jeez now really hope that Meyer is not Bok Coach, cause we will have Spies forever at 8 and captain to boot with Morne at fh until the next wc.
16 Nov 2011, 12:30 pm
@Puma(Puma)-259: Makes sense. The competition for that Bok 10 jersey is going to be hot.
16 Nov 2011, 12:34 pm
@Puma(Puma)-261: Ja I also hope for Chili to be captain of Bulls. Maybe it transforms Spies into the player we all hope he becomes.
16 Nov 2011, 12:35 pm
Just having a quick flip through the thread, and I find it really funny how Kiwis always refer to us Saffas as neanderthals, alcoholics, thugs, etc etc. but just about every time I swtich my laptop on it’s another AB player in k@k for boozing and fighting or getting out of hand in some way. I never see any stories about Bok players acting in this manner.
Take the plank out your own eye…
16 Nov 2011, 12:38 pm
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-264:
Where should I start?
16 Nov 2011, 12:38 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-262: Agree.
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-263: Really thought it would be Chili. Anyhow that is Bulls problem having Spies their captain. He had better up his game now. Just hope Meyer don’t become our Bok Coach now cause we will have Spies holding the 8 jersey until 2015 as Bok Captain.
We have plenty better 8′s in SA.
16 Nov 2011, 12:39 pm
@Puma(Puma)-266:
No where to hide for Spies now.
16 Nov 2011, 12:40 pm
For those that think Eugen Van Staden has left the Sharks. HE HAS NOT.
Just read on Sharksworld.
Van Staden is only on loan until end of December to Biarritz. Biarrits had an emergency due to Eduard’s injury and Plum felt Eugene needed game time.
Van Staden will be back with the Sharks after December.
16 Nov 2011, 12:43 pm
Boo hoo, Brycie fears for his safety… Oh dear
16 Nov 2011, 12:46 pm
@Puma(Puma)-268: Good thing Pooms. But I heard a little rumour this side about Bismarck – also a little snippet in the Rugby Paper – about some English clubs being interested in him. They are a bit shy of his asking price though – apparently 500k GBP. But fark, hows that for a bit of smoke where there could be a fire?
16 Nov 2011, 12:51 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-269:
you wear it like a badge of honour
16 Nov 2011, 12:57 pm
The Ab’s have got a massive test schedule next year, lets hope Paddys secret IRB bribe fund has been increased otherwise we could be in trouble.
16 Nov 2011, 12:57 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-270: Don’t think Sharks will let him out of his contract. He and Jannie have signed until 2013. So think we will have the brothers until then.
Yeah, that is a heck of a lot of money, but one can’t just get out of a contract that easy. Also both brothers love their farm and it is just a 2 hour drive from Durbs. They go there often. Do doubt any would leave just yet.
16 Nov 2011, 12:59 pm
@Puma(Puma)-273: Jeez stupid english again up there…….hehehe.
Meant. Doubt any would leave just yet. Ignore the do…..hehe.
16 Nov 2011, 13:17 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-267:
16 Nov 2011, 13:45 pm
Bryce
You will be fine, but you are still not welcome in SA.
After all, it is just a sport, isn’t it?
16 Nov 2011, 14:03 pm
ddoos!…
16 Nov 2011, 14:06 pm
@willievz(willievz)-276:
i doubt that Fitzy got death threats in 96′ and he was a saint
16 Nov 2011, 14:09 pm
Piet Van Zyl is in training for the 100 metre dash so he can take out Brycie.
16 Nov 2011, 14:09 pm
@Puma(Puma)-268:
If the Stormers had any sense and were looking for an undervalued acquisition to boost their tight 5 stock, they should have penned the signature of Van Staden.
Very underrated player.
16 Nov 2011, 14:11 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-278:
Bryce is a far bigger cheat than Fitzy.
No comparison really.
16 Nov 2011, 14:12 pm
Will Piet fit into the new skin tight Bokke jerseys.
16 Nov 2011, 14:20 pm
So lets use some SAFFA logic;
Rolland is not welcome in Wales
Joubert is not welcome in France
Brycie boy is not welcome in SA
you boys are onto something here
16 Nov 2011, 14:21 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-283:
Do you for one moment think Gert Bezuidenhout will not be questioned in a pub in rural Otago?
16 Nov 2011, 14:28 pm
At least Bryce admits it was a SHOCKER … Joubert still maintains publicly he got the final right on the day … which is not something he would able to say looking into the eyes of the face in the mirror …
16 Nov 2011, 14:31 pm
Well, you have to congratulate the people who selected Bryce for his task.
They knew/know very well that thinking long term is not one of his strengths.
So if it’s World Cup time he will be unable to think of the consequences of his actions.
Now with the WC behind us and everyone in NZ wondering what the fuss was about, he now needs to face the music. Yes he will collect his rewards from his puppet masters but safety issues now come into play.
Lots of regrets.
I’m actually concerned about Bryce, about his mental stability.
16 Nov 2011, 14:32 pm
@willievz(willievz)-284:
gert wouldn’t speak english made it a bit difficult for the boys i would have thought
16 Nov 2011, 14:34 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-285:
jb what did you think of Gerts performances?
16 Nov 2011, 14:42 pm
JB your thoughts?
He also mentions that quite a number of prominent South Africans including both the English and Afrikaans radio commentators (Chick Henderson and Gerhard Viviers), John Vorster and Danie Craven admitted that the second obstruction of Bruce Robertson should have been a penalty try.
16 Nov 2011, 14:49 pm
imo bryce is getting too much airtime.
he should be dropped into obscurity together with his smarmy cuntof a father and be done with it.
that goes for honest paddy too.
16 Nov 2011, 14:50 pm
He then goes on and elaborates about everything Bezuidenhout did wrong with emphasis on the two times that Bruce Robertson was obstructed from scoring; the South African lifting tactics in the line-outs; and the final penalty against Bush –who was nowhere near the ball- for barging in the line-out.
16 Nov 2011, 14:50 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-242:
Go find me one post when I said I rated Hoffman, I was pleased he left, another Pienaar type imo.
You might be mistaking me with Robzim whom rated Hoffman, myself and Rob had in depth discussions about this, Hoffman never a favourite of mine.
If you going to try and slate me .at least do it with proper facts !!
16 Nov 2011, 14:56 pm
I’m sure the 4th test in 76′ highlights will be on you tube for the non believers.
16 Nov 2011, 15:00 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-269:
16 Nov 2011, 15:02 pm
This is beginning to sound like a Vietnam movie scene. The battle of the bryce paddy.
16 Nov 2011, 15:08 pm
Shes gone real quiet around here, we are all happy to destroy Paddy and Brycie any commenst on Gert?
16 Nov 2011, 15:19 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-296:
well then perhaps nows a good time for you to give up trolling for a living and go and make us some noodles.
chop chop.
16 Nov 2011, 15:24 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-297:
Your thoughts on Gert, your thoughts on Paddy and Brycie are well documented?
16 Nov 2011, 15:34 pm
Are those noodles ready to go yet? Been waiting a while.
16 Nov 2011, 15:37 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-298:
come now they won’t boil themselves.
ask for help if you must.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-299:
Clearly not the two minute variety.
Our boy has style.
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