Bryce Lawrence: Highly unlikely to referee a Test again
Controversial New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence's Test career appears to be a thing of the past.
That is the word from SANZAR referees boss Lyndon Bray, who revealed that Lawrence would not be officiating at Test level in the forseeable future.
"From an IRB perspective he has not been selected in the test," Bray told South Africa's Eyewitness News.
"There's a decision that we as selectors in the IRB made back in March. His time is over at that level."
Lawrence was heavily criticised in South Africa for his officiating during the Springboks' World Cup quarter-final loss to the Wallabies.
He has refereed Super Rugby matches this year, but refuses to travel to South Africa allegedly due fears for his safety following numerous threats from the country's supporters.
Bray said because Lawrence would not travel to South Africa it is highly unlikely that he would referee a Test again.
"At this stage he is clearly not on the team," he explained.
"His challenge would be, if it's possible, to find his way back again.
"And I think given the reality and what he's gone through and the situation he's in at the moment that would be a huge ask," added Bray.
Comments
leebok says...
Im over it and moved on. I am also please the Kiwis won the RWC as now we dont have to listen to them banging on how they were cheated out of all the other RWC's they got knocked out of. But bad refereeing should be dealt with. I guess the kiwis are now worried McCaw will get pulled up more often for "slowing down" the game.
Posted 19:56 02nd August 2012
new_j4a says...
I am sorry to see him go....he could have been improved with support. I am a lot less worried about his poor performance at the RWC2011 QF than I am about the death threats and the hounding him out of the game. We need refs.
Couldn't understand NZ giving him the award....must have been a one horse race?
Posted 19:05 31st July 2012
APV1 says...
@ jonesy2 - Grammer is the difference between knowing you're $h!t and knowing your $h!t...
;-)
Posted 12:27 31st July 2012
philipjfry says...
@jonesy2: Why? Because darthbok annoys you? You have an over-inflated sense of self importance.
Posted 19:47 28th July 2012
jonesy2 says...
*their
Posted 06:37 28th July 2012
jonesy2 says...
this makes me sick. south africa should have played there last test
Posted 06:37 28th July 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi darthbok,
That was very good.
Posted 05:29 28th July 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Ramage, thank you for your contribution, I wasn't aware I could be wrong for asking a question but there you go :) The fact Australia's top referee is a kiwi doesn't mean anything to us though, does it? It's like asking Quade Cooper not to tackle us when we play Australia.. oh hang on...
Posted 04:36 28th July 2012
Ramage says...
Please don't give up your day job darthbok you certainly wont earn anything from breaking into verse. Sigh! Isn't it embarrassing to read such bilge. The sad thing is that you actually put it in print. Oh the pain. Surely we don't deserve such wrecking of the English language.
Posted 03:19 28th July 2012
darthbok says...
ode to bryce:
goodbye larry boy
yellow inside but black all over
you ruled the grass
but now you`re in clover
you hated green
especially the jersey
but come to SA
we barbacue you surely
there`s only 1 problem
who can we now hate?
oh S---, its the bokke
served on a plate---!
Posted 15:41 27th July 2012
Ramage says...
@ruckingkiwi you are wrong about no kiwi on the top refereeing panel as Chris Pollock currently injured is on the panel and Australia's top referee is a kiwi refereeing out of Australia and not at this staged deemed to be able to referee the All Blacks. Funny that this has cropped up under the story on Bryce Lawrence but the problem with NZ refereeing stems from the year's Bryce's father Keith was in charge of NZ referee development. Bryce was brought through but sweet few others and when four or five of the top NZ referees retired, within a short time of each other meant there was only his boy Bryce to promote. Since he has gone there have been a number of younger referees who have come through the NZ competition and now Super rugby. Interesting to see that unlike the number of OZ referees that have been tried and sacked the NZ refs are still there.
Posted 15:19 27th July 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi safehands,
I appreciate your reply. The problem with so many of us bloggers (ja, myself included) is our selective memories. Yes you are right that it is disgraceful to sink to the level of threatening a ref with bodily harm, no matter how much you feel that an injustice has been done.
Unfortunately by homing in on the more 'base' SA fan you seem to have forgotten how many AB supporters threw insults and threats the way of Wayne Barnes after the 2007 game against France. You see all nations have that type of loser-the person who believes that who they are is mirrored by the success of the national team. If the Boks are the world champs then it means I, who do nothing to chase my dream, am now a champion too (or so they think).
The supporter who has my respect no matter where they live is the one who can give me a hard time and taunt me before the game and let of steam for a while afterwards if they lose, and then laugh with me afterwards.
Ok, cheers, and have a good day (I mean it this time):-)
Posted 12:58 27th July 2012
safehands says...
Hi Stellenbosched......I don't think my post was vicious at all by the way. Just providing some feedback to some of the points you raised concerning poor refereeing, particularly by Bryce. By me pointing out indescretions of of a few idiotic saffa 'fans' in the past like the fat geezer attacking the ref on the pitch, the Mealamu incident this year etc, does not make for untruths or malicious gossip. It is fact.
I am by no means a fan of Bryce Lawrence, but the way in which he was mailiciously vilified by thousands of saffas on social media is not fit for the great game of rugby. It is the mindset of a people (I'm referring to those idiots who participated, not all saffas, and I'm ashamed to admit some are even related to me...on my wife's side thankfully) who are undignified, uncouth and bordering on savage. Given SA's reputation with the current crime epidemic, it would not lend for referees in his situation to think that he would be safe to travel there, especially when thousands of idiots are vilifying him online and baying for his head. It only takes one moron with that mentality to take matters too far, and for what? A game of rugby? Disgraceful is what that is and that is what should concern decent saffas like yourself more, rather than wrongfully claiming my comments to be acidic in nature.
I should point out that the final paragraph of my response was not directed at you personally, nor saffas in general, but more at the likes of the dumbasses on here called darthbok and co. My bad, I should have addressed them directly.
Posted 09:52 27th July 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi safehands and kitch
I have never said that NZ did not deserve to win the RWC last year. They were the best side in the 18 months before the tournament and justice was done when they lifted the cup.
And as far as I am concerned my post was about B Lawrence, and in no way was I attacking all Kiwis. But hey, it's a free world so go ahead and throw your insults at all South Africans until you feel better. Just remember that your vicious posts are out there for the world to read and in my opinion they say very little about who you two are as human beings. Enjoy your day.
Posted 07:12 27th July 2012
kitch says...
the fat guy runnujng onto the field..the armband incident.. the public moaning of some irb conspiracy..and the death threats show that some of you saffas are really screwed in the head, and considering your history, it shows you really havent come far as human beings at all!
it further shows that rugby was indeed the winner when you lost, for you dont deserve the honour and respect to be celebrated as any sort of champion
little wonder why people are leaving your country in droves!
Posted 05:42 27th July 2012
kitch says...
the fat guy runnujng onto the field..the armband incident.. the public moaning of some irb conspiracy..and the death threats show that some of you saffas are really screwed in the head, and considering your history, it shows you really havent come far as human beings at all!
it further shows that rugby was indeed the winner when you lost, for you dont deserve the honour and respect to be celebrated as any sort of champion
little wonder why people are leaving your country in droves!
Posted 05:42 27th July 2012
safehands says...
@Stellenbosched.....your first point may seem rational to you about death threats and cowards and the ref should toughen up and confront those so called cowards by showing his face in SA...in the hope that all will be forgiven...what utter drivel!! Forgiven for what exactly? For allowing a free for all at the breakdown? Well didn't your famed forwards have the same opportunities to disrupt and pilfer as Pocock did? Just because the Bok forwards weren't smart enough to take advantage, does not mean that the ref is to blame....what is that old adage again? Oh yes...adapt or die....simple really!! The Boks didn't adapt and were left to rue missed chances but instead of blaming themselves, they chose the easier path of making somebody else the scapegoat.
In a country as violent (crime ridden) as SA and with a history of idiots who throw things at players, refs and even charge on to the field to attack refs, where facebook pages were set up with the most putrid,vile, hate spouting campaign in the history of the great sport of rugby...would you have the balls to show up?? I doubt it...easy to be a keyboard warrior as you know. Comparing the Darrell Hair and Lawrence cases is nonsensical as the surrounding situations are worlds apart!!
The truth (although no bok fan will ever admit to it) behind the All Blacks winning the world cup is not because SA were denied anything, but rather the AB's deserved it off some excellent performances during the tournament and a showing of true grit in the face of the most severe off field pressure ever experienced by any other team in world rugby prior to the final...FACT!! The fact that SA lost in the quarters is not at Bryce's door, but rather your lot were hopeless with the amount of errors in that game and were by no means anywhere near being the best team at the tournament anyway...FACT!!
Posted 05:11 27th July 2012
porridge_time says...
leebok says...
I have to agree with Terry_English here. SA had all the ball and did nothing with it... well other an squander chance after chance. Just like the AB's were to blame against France in 2007 for failing to capitolise and to continually blame the officials is just poor sportsmanship.
Posted 02:24 27th July 2012
porridge_time says...
leebok says...
I have to agree with Terry_English here. SA had all the ball and did nothing with it... well other an squander chance after chance. Just like the AB's were to blame against France in 2007 for failing to capitolise and to continually blame the officials is just poor sportsmanship.
Posted 02:24 27th July 2012
tha_mai says...
Stellenbosched2 - perhaps you are right; Wayne Barnes may have received a lot of criticism, but in 2009 he was in NZ as an official, in 09-10 he reffed at Air NZ (now ITM) Cup, Super rugby, and test ABs v Ireland. Last year he was ref for Wallabies v ABs (in Oz) NZ lost but I don't recall him getting any blame for their poor showing that day. He did ok at RWC too.
Despite the attitude of some on forums, it appears both he and (most) NZ rugby 'got over it'.
Posted 02:23 27th July 2012