IRB gives Bryce the boot

IRB gives Bryce the boot

Bryce Lawrence has been axed from the IRB referees panel, while Paddy O’Brien will step down as IRB referee manager and focus on sevens.

Lawrence, New Zealand’s Referee of the Year in 2011, was abysmal in the Boks’ World Cup quarter-final against the Wallabies, allowing a free for all at the breakdown. He has failed to make the IRB referees panel for the June Tests.

The Boks’ matches against England will be blown by Kiwi-turned-Aussie Steve Walsh (Durban and PE) and Ireland’s Alain Rolland (Joburg).

Meanwhile, the IRB said that as part of its ongoing review process and commitment to ensuring consistency and that the best referees are selected on form to officiate in the biggest matches in the run up to the 2015 World Cup, it was introducing a restructured and more streamlined selection process overseen by a vastly experienced committee.

The committee, which includes former elite referees Lyndon Bray, Tappe Henning (both Sanzar), Donal Courtney and Clayton Thomas (both Six Nations), will now meet four times a year and make selections for the next international window with all performances reviewed as part of the next round of international selections.

The IRB said that as part of the restructure, O’Brien ‘has chosen to take on a new challenge’ by focusing on sevens rugby. The process for replacing the New Zealander will be announced in due course.


101 Comments

  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    axed dragons

  • 2.whatever: Reply to this comment

    faaaak yeah……..the wally

  • 3.PissAnt: Reply to this comment

    Bryce still on SANZAR panel.

  • 4.Tartan: Reply to this comment

    He’s just not on Tier 1 any more. Neither is Wayne Barnes for that matter. He’s still going to be seen regularly enough :(

  • 5.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @PissAnt(PissAnt)-3: will be interesting to know why they’ve both been demoted though

  • 6.Todd W: Reply to this comment

    I guess when it comes to the World Cup there are no second chances for the referees either; stuff up and that’s you gone.

    I don’t think the Springboks were in good form in that quarter-final and the coaches made stupid decisions. But, Australia were gifted that match thanks to the ref, I sympathise with Bok supporters having had to endure *that match* back in 2007 when the All Blacks were cheated out of a win.

    Also, as a New Zealander I would have liked to have seen the All Blacks play the Springboks on their way to winning the World Cup; it doesn’t feel right that we are the champions without testing our mettle against the Boks in a World Cup match.

    I guess it is all history now but yeah, Bryce Lawrence had his chance and he stuffed up and now he’s paying the price.

  • 7.PissAnt: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation(Transformation)-5:

    Well Bryce was just dropped cause he is kaka (along with Mark Lawrence from SA btw).

    Official word on Paddy is they want him involved with the Sevens in the build up to the Olympics.

  • 8.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @PissAnt(PissAnt)-7: didn’t lawrence retire last year already to take a ref development job @ irb?

  • 9.Tartan: Reply to this comment

    PoB should’ve been gone the minute there was that “apologise to the ABs” fiasco. Absolutely terrible way to handle things and it only served to be divisive, regardless of the legitimacy of the complaints.

    As for Bryce – ignoring the obvious, he’s completely unpredictable and the games either pass him by or become all about him.

  • 10.Guns: Reply to this comment

    blaa blaa blaa.. They will just appoint a new Tier 1 as*Fu*ck*r!!

  • 11.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    Oh no.
    A few on here blamed POB constantly for all of the Boks loses.
    What will these guys blame next when the Boks once again fail to deliver?

  • 12.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    pissant: mark lawrence announced his retirement form international refereeing in september last year already to take up a SARU mentorship job, so in essence he is not being demoted.

  • 13.cane: Reply to this comment

    Paddy and Brycie have done their work well.

    Mission accomplished:
    NZ won the 2011 RWC.

    Now the next Mission:
    Win an Olympic Gold in 7′s.

    Things are progressing nicely, with Paddy moving to an IRB role in 7′s.

    8)

  • 14.scar: Reply to this comment

    Lol Cane!!

  • 15.PissAnt: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation(Transformation)-12:

    Yes your right – announcement was wrong there.

  • 16.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-13:
    Hmm i think POB should head to ICC and sort out some of these Umpires.
    These Umpires are just to fair and correct, something needs to be done to get the black caps to the top

  • 17.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    Bryce or no Bryce

    Paddy or no Paddy

    the Yappies will continue to WHINGE

  • 18.cane: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-16:

    LOL,

    Are there any drugs that can improve a batsman’s game?

    I think this is the area NZC should be investigating.

  • 19.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    Hahahaha.

    Take that you worthless bag of pussfilledshyte.

    Cheating kiwi bastereaud.

    Paddy to focus on the olympics.

    Whatever.

  • 20.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    But wait.

    Brycehole was the NZ Rugby Ref of the year.

    What does that tell us?

  • 21.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-18:
    hehe
    I believe a few years ago a few Black caps get done with Marijuana?
    They were better then they they are now. They need to get back to there roots. :-)

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-19:
    OH yeah, they both are hurting real bad. I believe both of them have a few homes in NZ and around the world, alot of money and both have 2011 RWC medals, POB and Brycie played well in that tournament .

  • 22.cane: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-19:

    I shall be nominating both of these esteemed gents for Knighthoods.

    Such has been their contribution to World Rugby.

  • 23.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-20:
    Strange, wasnt he the ref of the series when the Boks played the British lions?
    There ya go, hes a very good ref.

  • 24.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    Caner

    I thought you said that it didn’t rain much in Pongoland at this time of year.

    This is the second test that has been fuckedover by rain.

    Denying us a well deserved whitewash.

    Your weather forecasting sucks and I am short on kip as a result.

  • 25.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    Bryce had ZERO bearing on the RWC result. His breakdown rulings were consistent to both teams. The PrickBoks were so HOPELESS that they couldnt score 1 stupid try despite 70% ball/territory. No team deserves to progress if theyve had a rugby lobotomy like the PrickBoks.

    No complaints when Bryce whistled the undeserving PrickBoks to a victory vs the B.Lions in the 1st Test and then allowed Burger to get away with a GOUGE in the 1st minute of the 2nd Test. Noone was whinging then.

    Thats Yappies for you. Always whinging but only when it suits.

  • 26.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    Ahhhshaddupp you bokpricklover.

    Your constant bleating is boring.

    Now fukkoff and play with your inflatable missus.

    Fuckingconvict wannabe.

  • 27.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-24:
    You guys do deserve the whitewash, very good team and alot better than what we can ever field.
    All we do is spoil your fun in the Cricket world cup, and yet it still feels good.

  • 28.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    The whinging Yappies line up for their 2 for the price of 1 rugby lobotomies

    dont be greedy now, the surgeons need some time to figure out whose already had theirs and who hasnt

    SO hard to tell, even for the experts

  • 29.Mike H: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-13:

    Damb thats funny **** Cane :)

    But you never know :)

  • 30.Mike H: Reply to this comment

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-25:

    LOL you can’t tust be consistent to both teams making up your own rules. You need to apply the rules of the game consistently to both teams.

    The new rules don’t favour the likes of Pocock, but under Bryce’s rules they did.

    Every time we got into the 22 he was allowed to steal the ball illegally. How do you score tries if you ball is constantly stolen illegally?

    Anyway the Boks should have drop kicked all day and gone on to play the AB’s.

    I think they had themselves to blame as well for not changing their tactics to match the **** ref.

  • 31.SjamBok: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation(Transformation)-5: For a start, because they have 80,000 people clamouring for their blood because they are so bloody useless?

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-25: You clearly know nothing of the mechanics of rugby you pawpaw. Why dont you go watch a few games and then ask your mommy to explain what a ruck is, because she probably knows more than you. Bryce’s ruling allowed a team that was getting dominated in all facets to NOT have any penalties given against them. If the breakdown was blown properly, the Boks should have been about 20-30 points ahead on penalties alone.

    The AB’s got 18 points against the Wallabies teh next game because of cheating at the breakdown, and they scored a try becaise the Wallabies were forced to allow the AB’s quick ball eventually. And the AB’s did not domintate the Wallabies to the extent the Boks did. The Boks got neither quick ball nor penalties. But it “somehow” suited Bryce not to give them.

    And there was not “consistent” blowing, because that woudl imply that any aspect of that game was even where teh Bok were allowed to slow the Aussie ball down. But the fact that the Aussies never had possession or territory – the sheer one-sided domination of the entire game by the Boks is what highlighted his corrupt attitude. And just remember that this VERY SAME ref blew teh Aussies to smithereens against the Irish ONE week before. Rather a sudden change in whistling styles dont you think? I’m not surprised the NZRU gave him an award…

  • 32.SjamBok: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-24: The weather in Wellington (winter or summer) cycles every 24 hours between “8 degrees with 60km/hr winds and intermittent showers” and “15 degrees with 120km/hr winds and constant deluge”.

    They do have sun occasionally, on an afternoon in February.

  • 33.SjamBok: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-13: Thats teh first thing that I thought when I saw that – Im putting a few quidd on on the AB’s getting the olympic sevens gold. Paddy would not let it happen any other way.

    Its a matter of time before Bryce Lawrence becomes a sevens ref. After all, if a tool has worked for you before…

  • 34.cane: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-24: \

    I WAS WRONG.

    Full stop.
    period.
    End of story.

    Actually in all seriousness Gunna, it has been a very poor summer and early autumn here in NZ.

    So much for this global warming thingy.

  • 35.cane: Reply to this comment

    @SjamBok(SjamBok)-33:

    Are you still in Auckland Sjam?

    Or do I have my wires crossed.

  • 36.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @SjamBok(SjamBok)-31:
    Well the win for the ABs against the Ozzies wasnt the ref but in fact we had a plan for Pocock and took him out of the game completely. GH explained the game plan after the game and it was brilliant.
    Now i dont know what you are trying to do here but the Boks have the best kicker of the ball. Steyn is up top when it comes to drop kicks and penalties, Boks didnt use him or he didnt think and there we have it.How many times were the Boks in the Ozzies quarter, it was a long time.
    Now i remember we were given rubbish in 2007 cos we lost against France and didnt try for the drop kick. Strange how these things turn about really.

  • 37.deadlypea: Reply to this comment

    We must not forget that Frans Steyn was ruled out of the tournament befor the qf playoff, his boot and physicality played a massive part in the Bok’s upwards curve of form. If the Boks did win the cup it would have sent the message that selecting coaches on political grounds is perfectly acceptable and who the hell knows who would be in charge now. Let NZ enjoy the trophy, its the last time they will ever host a RWC and it will probably be the last time they will win one ;)

  • 38.BuckT: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-34: apparently, the global warming causes more moisture to evaporate from the sea, therefore more rain, hurricanes and wet painties, as in the case of HG

  • 39.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @deadlypea(deadlypea)-37:
    Yeah we all had players missing, we had alot of player missing in 2007 as well as this tournament, what was it four # 10s?
    In fact we were told we would not win without Carter.
    Oh well as you have stated we wont win another RWC or host one, like SA wont botch up another attempt at holding one :-)

  • 40.bokfan1: Reply to this comment

    @Todd W(Todd W)-6: Toddy I appreciate your more balanced posting (as opposed to your countryman PrickBok) but you wouldnt want the Boks in that Semi, because they wouldve won.

    The only difference between the Boks and ABs since about 2005/6 has been McCaw and Carter (as it has been say Matfield and Du Preez on the Boks side).

    With ABs down to their 3rd/4th choice flyhalf and McCaw on 1 foot, the Boks wouldve won that semi. The French in the final wouldve been a harder challenge for the Boks, but they wouldve probably defended their title.

    So you and all Kiwis should thank god every night for Bryce and the IRB’s ludicrous decision to allow him to ref the QF after he had done so badly in the Aus v Ire match.

    What a surprise that a Kiwi ref was handed a game involving the 2 teams that could potentially challenge the ABs rigged World Cup the most! And then was given license to ignore most rules of the game. Almost as if it was planned…. hmmm….

  • 41.BuckT: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-36: the criticism you received for not trying the drop was the fact that you were behind for the last 15 minutes camped in their 22 and there was plenty of oppertunities. the boks went behind in the 74th minute and hardly made it back into the oppositions half…

  • 42.cane: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-39:

    And Ritchie played the whole tournament with a broken foot. Got stumped on AND gouged in the final.

    We beat France Twice.

    And hosted the best RWC ever.
    No Teams poisoned here Bro.

    8)

    8)

  • 43.cane: Reply to this comment

    @bokfan1(bokfan1)-40:

    Actually Boky,
    I think Prickbok is one of yours.

    8)

  • 44.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @bokfan1(bokfan1)-40:
    hahaha
    Yeah sure, the boks would have won, like the ABs would have won the cup in 2007.
    But you correct, Todd is a well balanced poster and true rugby fan, i mean a RWC final against the two most gifted countries for rugby players in the world……nothing better.
    But like the ABs of 2007, the Boks choked themselves. You have every right to blame everyone else Bokfan but the only one being really cheated here is yourself.

  • 45.cane: Reply to this comment

    Let’s get back to the subject matter here:

    Bryce Lawrence:

    You Mothers judge him on One Single game.

    We (The good guys) judge him on his lifetime achievements.

  • 46.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @BuckT(BuckTrendy)-41:
    So what you are saying is the Boks complained about the bad reffing yet they were winning upto the 74th minute. So he reffed badly for 6 minutes :-)
    Point is,if the boks thought a few points ahead is enough against a team that has had the better of them in the last few games then really its there fault.

    Good point about how the ABs were camped in the French 22 for 15 minutes yet no penalties, free kicks at all, seems really amazing dont you think?

  • 47.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-42:
    :-)
    Correct, no bad food here.

    @cane(cane)-45:
    Sir Bryce soon Caner, we all know it.

  • 48.cane: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-44:

    If there were any Justice in this World Hurricane.

    NZ would have every RWC.

    It has only been a bit a bad luck,
    food poisoning,
    and slight of hand,

    that has denied NZ this honour.

  • 49.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-13: The funny thing is that is exactly what Paddy is going to do…

    Bring on the sheepshagging matchfixers of rugby…

    Jolly good and all that…

    Uts Neew Zilun ahll tha wiy bro

  • 50.grant10: Reply to this comment

    Boks would’ve killed NZ in 1987 RWC … best Bok team ever, then they went and played the apartheid card – 1995, 3 boks played with broken bones and NZ complain because 3 of their samoan/fiji cannibal players have a bit of spuitpoep when they paid suzie to butcher a hobo for the cannibals to feed on … I’d think broken bones are far worse! and then there is this funny looking guy bryce who looks like he can s!t his pants at anytime …no wonder thet have earthquakes etc, the wheel turns!

  • 51.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-48:
    lol
    Justice is coming Caner, when Brycie kneels down and gets the tap on the shoulder from the Queen,grasping the sword, nothing better.

  • 52.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-49:
    wow i totally understood that last part of your post.
    Keep it up, there hope for you yet.

  • 53.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-51: Let me rewrite that sentence for you to make it entirely appropriate:

    Justice is cumming, sheepshagger, when Brycie kneels down and gets a tap on the shoulder from a queen, grasping his sword… nothing better

  • 54.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-52: Ye bro…

  • 55.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @grant10(grant100)-50:
    yes, its a funny thing those earthquakes, that would teach us.
    we should have let you guys carry on abusing human rights and then we would not have had any earthquakes…..oh well nevermind, we have the RWC now, you dont

  • 56.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-53:
    lol
    HG, i told you not to write on here when you are sexually frustrated.

  • 57.grant10: Reply to this comment

    hurricane, then qhy do you guys go play cricket in Zimbabwe if it is a human rights “thing”? and why do you guys let Zim play in NZ? Not the same if you know there is a 90% chance that you can lose against the other team hey?

  • 58.cane: Reply to this comment

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-53:

    Hey Pigsy is back.

  • 59.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @grant10(grant100)-57:
    Hey, you guys live closer to Zim, sort it out, its happening in your backyard.
    Disgusting really.

  • 60.cane: Reply to this comment

    @grant10(grant100)-57:
    “qhy do you guys go play cricket in Zimbabwe if it is a human rights “thing”? and why do you guys let Zim play in NZ”.

    Lets get down to the real issue here Grant100.

    Why don’t you get yourself a REAL NIK.

  • 61.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-56: @cane(cane)-58: Go new ZEE-lun-duhrs… Go Bryce and Paddy… The real winners of the Rigby Wihld Cip

  • 62.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    The only sword Brycie is going to see is Paddy’s pork sword.

    And the only person who will ever call him Sir will be the arresting officer from the IRB anti-corruption unit.

    Caner is right about one thing though, I fear licksbokpricks might be one of ours.

    Oh well nobody is perfect.
    :lol:

  • 63.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    Gunther where you was yesterday

  • 64.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    Did you not get my mail?

    I believe you left a laconic note for me.

    I had a care package lined up for you!

  • 65.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    I wasn’t at work to receive your mail!

    S the only time I had to come around!

  • 66.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    I’m sure when I leave town your establishment would be long closed!

  • 67.dquinn25: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-42: that was definitely not the best rugby world cup ever! the standard was extremely low from pretty much everybody including New Zealand. yes France were beaten twice however they also lost to Tonga! the Argentina side of 2007 could have won that tournament.

  • 68.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    Ahhhhhh. You should have asked the girl there to phone me.

    Come on sat.

    Speak to Tara.

    Remind me during the week and I will leave instructions for her.

  • 69.CoachPete: Reply to this comment

    Justice at last Good riddance
    Clearly as a result of the disgraceful performance in the world cup handing the Aussies the win in quarter final
    It was clear to the whole world that he favoring the Aussies at the breakdown and did not apply the rules which basically was cheating

  • 70.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment

    Well it doesn’t matter now – Bryce has done his job – Paddy’s satisfied so mission accomplished. NZ referee of the year has got to be the biggest admission or recognition for pleasing a nation.

  • 71.blueboy: Reply to this comment

    Lawrence got what he deserved no more no less he is a terrible rugby referee.

  • 72.raven: Reply to this comment

    Surprised this news has got so little response – NZ referee of the year is booted off the panel- Paddy finally steps (or gets booted??) – watch this space – where there’s smoke there’s fire – and the flames are gonna burn those who thought they could get away with manipulating results to favour one nation.

  • 73.garth: Reply to this comment

    Title should read: “Bryce get’s done for match-fixing.”

  • 74.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    @Todd W(Todd W)-6: C’mon — the Boks dodged BOTH the Wallabies and All Blacks en route to RWC2007 and gloated for four years. They were walloped by both these teams in the 2011 3N and came stone last (again, as usual). And they blame a ref for their QF exit? Puh-leeze! The last time they won a test at Eden Park was 1937, when Danie Craven was the scrumhalf!

  • 75.Nils: Reply to this comment

    Of course Bryce is terrible, screwed BILs big time. Or he was good guy because Saffas won?

    Ref is as good as his last game with Boks, I guess.

  • 76.Nils: Reply to this comment

    @TheTackler(TheTackler)-74: “C’mon — the Boks dodged BOTH the Wallabies and All Blacks en route to RWC2007 and gloated for four years.”

    Or rather lectured like “take it like men”, “grow a pair”, “stop whingeing”, “don’t be like little girls” etc. etc. and etc. Never thought karma will hit back next time exactly the same way.

  • 77.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @dquinn25(dquinn25)-67:
    wow sort of puts evertything in perspective. If Argentina of 2007 could have won it,makes Boks of 2011 not getting out of the QFs pathetic really.

    @garth(garth)-73:
    Should read.
    ” Bryce steps down as life threatened from sore losers”

  • 78.dquinn25: Reply to this comment

    @Nils(Nils)-76: True however the Boks played England twice won 51-6 aggragate and that flattered England! England beat Australia! NZ lost to France who lost to England. Point being they beat teams that Aus and NZ got beaten by. Does anyone really think the 2007 Aus team would have beaten the Boks in that cup? I doubt it. Finally the Boks strolled through that world cup in 2nd/3rd gear and won. NZ should have not lost to France not because of a forward pass but because they were simply the better team, but as usual they played the weakest teams at the world cup in the pool stages and as a result werent prepared for a real test when it finally came, oh and McCallisters try was a forward pass also.the Boks of 2011 deserved to go out simply because they couldnt beat a poor Aus team with arguably the best squad at the competition.

  • 79.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @dquinn25(dquinn25)-78:
    Well you seem confused.
    You say a poor Ozzie team havnt OZ beaten the Boks 6 out of the last 7 games?
    Reality is the Boks were poor and Ozzie are the better team.

  • 80.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @dquinn25(dquinn25)-78:
    And the Boks had the best squad in the tournament???
    lol its the same squad that won wooden spoon in 2011 tri nations.

  • 81.dquinn25: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-80: Best squad doesnt always equal the best team,but the team was poorly managed

  • 82.dquinn25: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-77: I agree you ***, the 07argentinian side would have beaten the 2011 Boks no problem. But they would also have had it in them to beat the aus and NZ team of 2011, the standard was piss poor in 2011

  • 83.Joe Maher: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-55:

    I’d place a little more store on your (that is, NZ’s) human rights stance if your guys (and Aus) stopped licking China’s behind, gatkruiping anything Chinese because it helps your economies.

    China’s human rights abuses, from Mao to the present, make South Africa’s insignificant (yes, there were human rights abuses in South Africa, no-one is denying that).

    But please, spare me the indignation when you and your ANZAC pals across the ditch have no problem snuggling up with the worst human rights abuser the world has known…andn that abuse continues to this very day. You happily trade with China, enjoy diplomatic ties, send you athletes to the Beijing Olympics, host Chinese teams, the list is endless.

    You see, it’s easy when the offender doesn’t have a material impact on your economy, quite a different matter when it does. Hypocrisy is what level-headed people call it.

    Another word is expediency…and expedience is always devoid of morality.

    So get off you wonky high horse, please.

  • 84.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment

    Paddy has clearly been booted too.
    “Chosen to take on the new challenge” of sevens is the IRB equivalent of going from foreign minister to minister for homewares and furnishings.

  • 85.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-83:
    oh so it seems you had a go at my post but let go post # 50.
    Show your true colours Joe.
    I for one dont sit back on a comp and joyfully comment about some countries national disaster and joke about it. Good to see you approve of those things, now we know where we stand.

  • 86.Hurricane: Reply to this comment

    @dquinn25(dquinn25)-82:
    Well there is always a first i suppose for Argentina to beat us.
    But seems a bit far fetched really , seen as Scotland just lost to Argentina by 5 points in 2007 RWC. Suppose Scotland would have taken care of the Boks ,OZ and NZ as well?

  • 87.niknaks: Reply to this comment

    I think NZ Rugby lost a lot of respect when they gave Lawrence the Referee of the Year Award. Although I do think the Boks should have been able to win that Quarter Final regardless of his incompetence, the fact remains that he is hopelessly out of his depth at international (and even Super Rugby) level. That seems to be the opinion of most impartial observers anyway. Not dishonest, but just not good enough either.

  • 88.Joe Maher: Reply to this comment

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-85:

    Hurricane, for the record, I believe grant10′s comments about the NZ earthquakes are in extremely poor taste and I neither support nor condone them.

    Similarly, his racist comments about ‘samoan/fiji cannibal players’ are equally out of line and should be condemned by all sane people.

    Now that we’ve cleared that, how about responding to the points I made in 83?

  • 89.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    WHO cares if the whinging Yappies “lost respect” because of Bryce.

    When youve got no respect to give, noone notices it when youve lost it.

  • 90.gonzo: Reply to this comment

    @niknaks(niknaks)-87: Maybe in RSA but i doubt anyone in any other country knows or cares. I doubt anyone even remembers who the referee of the year was in any previous year. Most countries prefer to focus on the players, coaches, teams, not referees

  • 91.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment

    Prickboks. Still incoherent I see.

  • 92.Joe Maher: Reply to this comment

    The world is full of surprises…there’s an individual even more incoherent, even more brainlessly stupid, than the award-winning journo named Ryan Vrede.

    And his/her name is…Prickboks going south.

    A literary gem, old Prickboks. Take a bow!

  • 93.Shark: Reply to this comment

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-89:

    How’s the home schooling coming along?

    ‘youve’ is you’ve and ‘noone’ is no one.

  • 94.Hondo: Reply to this comment

    I’ve noticed both Barnes and Kaplan were axed too
    The two best Test referees IMO
    Kaplan is not popular with England and Australia, Barnes is not approved by NZ, SA, Ireland and Wales, so it seemed some different criteria were applied
    Walsh is a joke, to call him ‘Elite Referee’ sounds peculiar ;)

  • 95.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    @Shark(Predawn)-93:

    you must have a very small brain.

    smaller, even, than the average whinging Yappie.

  • 96.niknaks: Reply to this comment

    Hey Prikbok

    Just because walked in to find you mother being boned by a large Afrikaner when you were a kid, don’t hate us all. Think of it this way, she LOVED it! So, pick up where you left off before the trauma and go back to school…

  • 97.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    @niknaks(niknaks)-96:

    funny being ticked off here for alleged errors of grammar

    and then you turning up

  • 98.niknaks: Reply to this comment

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-97:

    Nope, you were ticked off for being a moron.

    And I was here the whole time…

  • 99.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment

    Paddy & Bryce ,good riddance.Those two have ripped off many a good team.

  • 100.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment

    @niknaks(niknaks)-98:

    admitting to turning up to hang out with morons is at least progress, in your case.

    but hardly the least of your concerns.

  • 101.superba: Reply to this comment

    Funny how in the RWC Cups of 2003 and 2011 the refs blew the matches out of character to favour the home side . Watson kept Australia in it until the end , and Craig Joubert’s effort was not the way he usually does ref . Both these guys favoured the home teams . France deserved to win that RWC final but NZ deserved to win the tournament .

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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