Bryce hangs up whistle
16 Oct 2012
New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence has retired after officiating his 200th first-class match.
Lawrence, who faced mass criticism from the South African rugby fraternity after his poor performance during the Wallabies’ victory over the Springboks in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals, became the fourth Kiwi official to reach the 200-match mark. He follows Paddy O’Brien (221 matches), Paul Honiss (220) and Steve Walsh (210).
Lawrence also refereed 25 Tests and 60 Super Rugby games.
He told the Bay of Plenty Times that he was forced into retirement because of the threats he received after the World Cup.
‘It got pretty bad,’ said Lawrence. \Not really threats on my family as such, there was a concern, but it was mainly aimed at me through social media. On Facebook they launched a ‘get rid of Bryce Lawrence’ site and it was pretty nasty.
‘That was absolutely the reason for my career change. I got told at the end of the World Cup that I would have a break from Test rugby for the Six Nations and I could totally accept that as there has to be a consequence for poor performance.
‘I was told I would be brought back in the middle of this year, as I was ranked in the top three or four referees in the world. But because of the political reaction from rugby unions like Australia and South Africa behind the scenes, they dropped me.
‘Sanzar used me but not in South Africa, so eventually they said it was getting tough having you in the draw, because we have to keep making changes to keep you in the system when you are not going to South Africa, so see you later. So I knew I was not able to referee at the level I needed to be re-contracted, really – all because of that one game.’
Lawrence also admitted that there was outside influence going into the Wallabies-Springbok quarter-final clash.
‘I went into the game knowing it was a massive match and I didn’t want to overly influence the outcome and that was in the back of my mind. The way that transpired was I didn’t make decisions and if I had my time again I would just go out there and do what I normally do, which is just referee and back myself.
‘I had four really good games at the World Cup and then I had that. I had outside pressure from pretty senior people from rugby countries behind the scenes that really created my mindset of lacking confidence to deliver what I normally do.
‘There was some pretty nasty political stuff going on about that appointment. I refereed Australia versus Ireland and Ireland had won but behind the scenes guys like [Australian CEO] John O’Neill were kicking up a massive stink. I knew a bit about that and it was enough to affect me, and it probably made me freeze on the biggest stage.’
Lawrence take on a new post as the NZRU High Performance referee reviewer.
Kiwi referees Vinny Munro and Keith Brown will also retire at the end of the New Zealand Cup.
576 Comments
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16 Oct 2012, 22:29 pm
@poppa69-297: Yes, like John Mitchell, Carlos Spencer and John Plumtree.
16 Oct 2012, 22:29 pm
@Heavens Game-295: who’s passing judgment I’m calling you a delinquent which is how you act sometimes.
now you wanna tell my my four letter word tirades are worse than yours.. yes they are, but they are directed at a specific purpose.. yours ain’t… apart from trying to blow your own ego sky high..
16 Oct 2012, 22:29 pm
@ahasaid theclown-293: what the **** has this got to do with the aftertaste of a.rsehole licking sycophancy…?
Get a grip fuckwit… You want a barney then you will get one… I guarantee you.
And if thats what you want then try make it original… Twat
16 Oct 2012, 22:30 pm
@Hurricane-290:
Went to Egypt a couple of years ago. We did the Nile Cruise for 3 nights – you combine history, beer , suntanning , beer, sight seeing , beer. It was a good trip. But Cairo was a dump. See the pyramids, get in and get out.
South Africa is much safer. Particularly in rugby season. Whatever guys say around here, they will still buy you a beer and give decent advice.
Please tell me, poppa isn’t coming with you.
Hang on, we’ll make him buy all the beers for all the abuse he has given us.
16 Oct 2012, 22:30 pm
@victoriabok-294:
lol
I will make sure i am fully fed before i unleash my Maori ways onto your people.
16 Oct 2012, 22:31 pm
@poppa69-296:
Naah, I’ve met Kiwis and Aussies at Loftus, all good guys loving the game
Even the bloody Pom’s Barmy Army is ok if they’re still sober
16 Oct 2012, 22:32 pm
@Horings-301: which one of those was stabbed in his gated community ?
16 Oct 2012, 22:35 pm
@corporal punishment-300: “we were cheated out of the WC by the French in 1999″ Say what?
16 Oct 2012, 22:35 pm
@ahasaid theclown-302: The only ego here floating way beyond itself is you and yours…
And yet you think you have the right to be blog judge jury and executioner…
Farken pharisaic, mimicking, masquerading charlatan…
Begone fuckface.
16 Oct 2012, 22:35 pm
@Heavens Game-284:
> Crusty Caprivi
Who ??
16 Oct 2012, 22:36 pm
@poppa69-307: And he still wants to live here. He was stabbed and fired and he still prefers South Africa to NZ. What the hell is going on there.
16 Oct 2012, 22:36 pm
@Heavens Game-291: You are just bitter because NZ rugby has all the silverware.
Face it, South African rugby is more and more like English football. Lots of brawn and earnest endeavour, but lacking in the skill and playing style to compete at the highest level.
I get it. The All Blacks made your rugby look foolish at Soccer City and it has hurt you. You’ve been through denial, now you are onto anger. You’ll feel much better if you can move ontowards acceptance…
16 Oct 2012, 22:36 pm
NZINCHINA
There were a couple of comments about ref’s being biased on both sides of teh indian Ocean in teh early tests between countries. Naas himself made afew comments about the ’71 test I think, where a penlaty was awarded to give Nz teh series, when Naas swears blind that there was nothing that happened to warrant teh penalty. hmmmmmmm…
Any good riddance to rubbish ref. Cheating scum. “Froze” my a$$. He is retiring on the payoff he got from the NZRU for his hand in the 2011 RWC.
16 Oct 2012, 22:37 pm
@corporal punishment-300: Kaino was way off side about 25 mts out or less with about 7 minutes to play.. he refused to blow that penalty which was an outright gimme.. the other one he gave with 15 still to go was borderline about 45 mts out and to the left with enough time for AB’s to respond.. the few later on he averted blatantly from blowing would have sealed the game France would have won and AB’s would have been in mourning for another who knows how many long excruciating years.. ?
I watched some clips from high profile rugby fundi’s, ex players who were watching some of those calls and they were flabbergasted by the sheer lack of any reffing at the crucial breakdown infringements that were happening right inside AB’s 22 in the last 10 or less minutes of the game.
First half was 50/50 but second half and especially last quarter was 80% France on the ascendancy and Joubert kept them out.. another occasion, not a WC final where AB’s simply had to win, and another ref, would have ended very differently to that.
16 Oct 2012, 22:37 pm
@poppa69-307:
Mitchell, the guy missed his cinnamon ring and “stabbed” him in the shoulder
He must have had a boner each time the AB scrum bound in front of him and seeing seven guys bent in front of him?
16 Oct 2012, 22:38 pm
@Hurricane-299: All…? Did I say all. Evidence please… Come…
Lying schweinhund…
16 Oct 2012, 22:38 pm
@I am a stormer-304:
lucky, would have love to go to Egypt….its just a place of mystery to me.
But what i saw on a Doco about SA earlier in the year just gob smacked me.
We love outdoors and sight seeing, plenty of that in SA
16 Oct 2012, 22:39 pm
@Horings-308: dirty off the ball play by the French from half time, targetting our play makers including Kellaher, was not punished by the Ref (tyical that). The Aussies saw this clearly, and devised a strategy to deal with it in the final. When the French stared their tricks, Eales told the ref he would take his team off the field if he didn’t start penalising the French for it.
Penalties ensued, as did a Wallaby victory.
16 Oct 2012, 22:40 pm
@victoriabok-315: so SA men are ghey? thought so, your response proves it..
@Horings-311: its because he is an intellectual giant in SA, look at the cushy job he now has giving commentary… you all lap it up, we all knew the fallout would come when he was first appointed at the lions… you can keep him..
16 Oct 2012, 22:40 pm
@corporal punishment-312: at least hes come back from France early this time…
16 Oct 2012, 22:40 pm
@SjamBok-313: It was in 1981. The ref first gave a dubious short arm free kick. Then gave 10 metres running towards the posts and not in a straight line and strangely changed the short arm to a long arm penalty. It was so obvious it was actually hilarious.
16 Oct 2012, 22:41 pm
@Heavens Game-303: come come fckwit you another one think you a bigger cheese than you are.. come barney fckwit you ain’t in my league dickyboy. not a fcking chance.
your ego is outa sight.. you think you another one these super duper cleverdicks.. well pity for you I see you clear through all the mud you hide behind.
16 Oct 2012, 22:41 pm
@Horings-311:
poppa would never understand that.
He thinks we don’t have access to Arsetralian or Kiwi newspapers.
Some of those stories make my hair stand on end!
16 Oct 2012, 22:43 pm
@corporal punishment-312: Wrong on all accounts…
But hey, if a Sieg Heil salute for hakamania fascist rugby supremacy makes you feel better in your wallowing comfortable arrogance then here’s a nice little…
Sieg Heil to go with God defend New Zealand…
And dont dare the Frogs or any other team or nation dare challenge your legislated little challenge…
How trite…
16 Oct 2012, 22:43 pm
@poppa69-319:
> so SA men are ghey? thought so, your response proves it..
No but Micthell is a Marmite miner
16 Oct 2012, 22:44 pm
@Heavens Game-309:
Nope I’m no blog judge jury or executioner.. I’m simply the clown that calls all the overblown ego’s out to dance ..and by golly do they only but fckng dance.. right inside their own fatfck mire.
the judging and adjudicating and some even think the executing is done by some others who think their sh’t don’t stink around here.
16 Oct 2012, 22:44 pm
@I am a stormer-323: in comparison though we have nothing on you guys.
we also have access to SA newspapers.. I cant believe human beings treat people the way you guys do… abhorrent is an adjective that falls woefully short..
16 Oct 2012, 22:45 pm
@ahasaid theclown-314: I’ve agreed with you that the ref didn’t blow the AB’s in the last 20 minutes (which you’ve revised to the last 7 minutes
). Re the first half, no you are wrong. I’ve also watched and discussed the game with some senior professional rugby players, and they have made exactly the same comments that I have above – Joubert let the French get away with murder.
So we’ll have to agree to disagree on this.
The end result is the Ab’s won the game, and this was appropriate as they were the best team in the World Cup and in rugby generally before and since. The French on the other hand were as usual a disgrace at the World Cup, and are lucky to be the 5th best team in world at present.
That’s is from me today, as work calls.
16 Oct 2012, 22:45 pm
@victoriabok-325: is that why he loves SA? the reason he wants to stay? nothing like going double d.utch huh?
16 Oct 2012, 22:46 pm
@poppa69-327:
> I cant believe human beings treat people the way you guys do… abhorrent is an adjective that falls woefully short..
Yes, and if we can do it to our own, imagine what we’d do to you….
16 Oct 2012, 22:47 pm
@Heavens Game-324: nah, our dominance over you guys for the last 20 years (12 wins in that time against us) is all that matters..
what has the head to head got out to now? is it 13 or 14 tests?
16 Oct 2012, 22:47 pm
@corporal punishment-318: You can show me any game you like and I will write a similar short paragraph. You call this cheating?
I remember a Bulls Cheetahs final where all the Cheetah supporters (incl WP supporters) accused the ref afterwards of cheating. Strangely enough the most shocking decision I have seen in years (except for the Bryce penalty on the Beast for dangerous play) ocurred when Frans Viljoen literally came from the Bulls side, through the gates and cleaned out one of our players after which Brussow picked the ball up and sent someone away to score. No-one picked that one up.
16 Oct 2012, 22:48 pm
@poppa69-329:
Yes, nice and tight unlike the prolapsed Kiwi fudgepackers
16 Oct 2012, 22:48 pm
@victoriabok-330: hence why I asked Hurri if he has his kevlar vest, hired a decent security firm, if hes going to leave his valuables at home and to dress down so as not to display any hint of wealth, stay inside his hotel at night, dont stop at robots etc.
16 Oct 2012, 22:49 pm
@Heavens Game-316: whats with the schweinhund ?. he never treats you that way.. shows he got more class than you.. perhaps because he comes from New Zealand and not Zimbabalubabwe
16 Oct 2012, 22:49 pm
@ahasaid theclown-322: Yes you are right… I am not in your league… and definitely not even attempting to be…
Now farken go take a break – give yourself a *******, or ask your little sheepshagging sycophant to oblige you… Because I aint…
Then come back when your inflated sense of self admiration has deflated some of that rancid hotair…
Farken animus
16 Oct 2012, 22:50 pm
@victoriabok-333: hahaha you seem to know an awful lot on the subject.. is that why youre in Victoria? so as not to be corrected?
16 Oct 2012, 22:50 pm
@Heavens Game-336: **** = blo.wjob
16 Oct 2012, 22:51 pm
@Hurricane-317:
Enjoy the wild life. I mean the Kruger or any other game reserve.
And Cape Town.
Skip Durban and Sharks supporters. You won’t be missing much.
The Garden Route from Plet to CT will be a must.
And one final thing, skip Durban. It’s a smelly fishing village!
16 Oct 2012, 22:52 pm
@poppa69-334:
Normally the guys coming for tests come as part of a tour group and the tour operator would look after them
16 Oct 2012, 22:54 pm
@poppa69-337:
Corrected?
16 Oct 2012, 22:54 pm
@poppa69-331: “our” dominance… You mean the AB dominance over the self defeating Boks…
A farken semi-literate, emotionally retarded mummy’s boy has never had dominance over me…
And never will…
In mind, emotion and certainly not body…
I reckon a face to face meeting would result in dominance alright… Little Pooping Popper crying over spilt beer…
Like before…
Like after…
Dominance? Thats farken dominance if ever there was Cocomofo
16 Oct 2012, 22:56 pm
@Heavens Game-342: internet hardman alert.. come at me bro..
self defeating Boks? hahahaha classic, your funniest post ever..
16 Oct 2012, 22:57 pm
@poppa69-334:
The AB’s I saw were in tradional taxis – no problem.
Stick in a group – no problem.
Ask me for help – no problem – but I am expensive and choose my clietle wisely.
16 Oct 2012, 22:58 pm
@I am a stormer-344:
oops – clientele – is that correct? I think so.
16 Oct 2012, 23:00 pm
@Heavens Game-316:
Post # 266
To most other nations this is cheating… To Kiwis this is just playing the game.
Too me that says all kiwis, what do you think?
And stop with the childish name calling, potty mouth needs a bit of soap
16 Oct 2012, 23:00 pm
@I am a stormer-345: so are you saying you wouldnt have a beer with me either? I’ll add you to the list of those who are adamant they wont..
16 Oct 2012, 23:01 pm
@Hurricane-317: Fark Egypt… Strues Bob… Rather come to SA… You bring Hurricant and the Hurricant brood over and little ole HG here will show you the time of your life…
Just gotta ignore Banshee though… Maybe I lock her up for the duration…
Dont forget your guitar though… Must sing for your supper
16 Oct 2012, 23:02 pm
@poppa69-343: Hehe… Bembiza
16 Oct 2012, 23:04 pm
@Heavens Game-336: never mind never mind when you step off of all that fake put up bravado then that is when you actually start to shine…
so don’t ever mind the clown. they do what others won’t which is filter out all the fake false fallacy of enlightenment or entitlement and shine the torch on the pus of the pimple that is ready to bust up and burst… bit of a kak job but I’m not sure if its even necessary that someone has to do it.
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