IRB gives Bryce the boot
24 Mar 2012
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
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24 Mar 2012, 10:34 am
axed dragons
24 Mar 2012, 10:34 am
faaaak yeah……..the wally
24 Mar 2012, 10:36 am
Bryce still on SANZAR panel.
24 Mar 2012, 10:38 am
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
24 Mar 2012, 10:48 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-3: will be interesting to know why they’ve both been demoted though
24 Mar 2012, 10:50 am
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.
24 Mar 2012, 10:51 am
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 10:55 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-7: didn’t lawrence retire last year already to take a ref development job @ irb?
24 Mar 2012, 10:55 am
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.
24 Mar 2012, 10:59 am
blaa blaa blaa.. They will just appoint a new Tier 1 as*Fu*ck*r!!
24 Mar 2012, 11:05 am
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?
24 Mar 2012, 11:08 am
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.
24 Mar 2012, 11:20 am
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)
24 Mar 2012, 11:32 am
Lol Cane!!
24 Mar 2012, 11:48 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-12:
Yes your right – announcement was wrong there.
24 Mar 2012, 12:14 pm
@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
24 Mar 2012, 12:15 pm
Bryce or no Bryce
Paddy or no Paddy
the Yappies will continue to WHINGE
24 Mar 2012, 12:18 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 12:21 pm
Hahahaha.
Take that you worthless bag of pussfilledshyte.
Cheating kiwi bastereaud.
Paddy to focus on the olympics.
Whatever.
24 Mar 2012, 12:26 pm
But wait.
Brycehole was the NZ Rugby Ref of the year.
What does that tell us?
24 Mar 2012, 12:26 pm
@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 .
24 Mar 2012, 12:30 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 12:35 pm
@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 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm
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.
24 Mar 2012, 12:42 pm
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.
24 Mar 2012, 12:48 pm
Ahhhshaddupp you bokpricklover.
Your constant bleating is boring.
Now fukkoff and play with your inflatable missus.
Fuckingconvict wannabe.
24 Mar 2012, 12:55 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 12:57 pm
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
24 Mar 2012, 13:08 pm
@cane(cane)-13:
Damb thats funny **** Cane
But you never know
24 Mar 2012, 13:12 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 13:16 pm
@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…
24 Mar 2012, 13:20 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 13:22 pm
@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…
24 Mar 2012, 13:28 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 13:36 pm
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-33:
Are you still in Auckland Sjam?
Or do I have my wires crossed.
24 Mar 2012, 13:37 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 13:57 pm
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
24 Mar 2012, 14:08 pm
@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
24 Mar 2012, 14:08 pm
@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
24 Mar 2012, 14:15 pm
@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….
24 Mar 2012, 14:19 pm
@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…
24 Mar 2012, 14:21 pm
@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)
24 Mar 2012, 14:22 pm
@bokfan1(bokfan1)-40:
Actually Boky,
I think Prickbok is one of yours.
8)
24 Mar 2012, 14:23 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 14:29 pm
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.
24 Mar 2012, 14:30 pm
@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?
24 Mar 2012, 14:32 pm
@cane(cane)-42:
Correct, no bad food here.
@cane(cane)-45:
Sir Bryce soon Caner, we all know it.
24 Mar 2012, 14:33 pm
@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.
24 Mar 2012, 14:40 pm
@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
24 Mar 2012, 14:40 pm
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!
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