Steve Walsh: SA v England - twice
The IRB's new selection committee have announced the match officials to do duty during the June Test window.
Jaco Peyper is amongst the new faces chosen to join the IRB's top panel which has been reduced from ten to eight.
Former Munster full-back/wing John Lacey will referee in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Also new at this level are assistant referees Garratt Williamson of New Zealand, Stuart Berry of South Africa and James Bolabiu of Fiji.
27 May
England vs Barbarians at Twickenham, London
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: tba (Ireland)
Television match official: tba (England)
29 May
Ireland vs Barbarians at Kingsholm, Gloucester
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Assistant referees: tbs (France)
Television match official: tba (England)
2 June
Wales vs Barbarians at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: tba (Ireland)
Television match official: tbs (Wales)
5 June
Australia vs Scotland at Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle, NSW
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Pacific Nations Cup
Fiji vs Japan
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (France) , tba (Japan)
Samoa vs Tonga
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (France) , tba (Japan)
9 June
New Zealand vs Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Australia vs Wales at Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
South Africa vs England at Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Argentina vs Italy
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland),Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Canada vs USA at Richardson Stadium, Kingston, Ontario
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
10 June
Pacific Nations Cup
Fiji vs Samoa
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland) , tba (Japan)
Japan vs Tonga
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland) , tba (Japan)
15 June
Canada vs Italy at BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), tba (USA)
16 June
New Zealand vs Ireland at Christchurch Stadium
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Pascal Gauzere (France)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Australia vs Wales at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Fiji vs Scotland at Churchill Park, Lautoka
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
South Africa vs England at Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Argentina vs France
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
USA vs Georgia at Denver, Colorado
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), tba (Canada)
17 June
Pacific Nations Cup
Samoa vs Japan
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (France), tba (Japan)
23 June
New Zealand vs Ireland at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (France), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Australia vs Wales at Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
South Africa vs England at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Argentina vs France
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
USA vs Italy at BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), tba (Canada)
Canada vs Georgia at Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), tba (USA)
Samoa vs Scotland at Apia Park, Samoa
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
Pacific Nations Cup
Fiji vs Tonga
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), James Bolabiu (Fiji)
Comments
irishwelsh says...
Most intresting decision......Rolland at the Millennium Stadium for Wales vs BaaBaas?!? I'm sure the hate mob will be out!!!
Posted 12:51 27th March 2012
J_HDK says...
It's tough being a referee. It doesn't help when they have not been given sufficient training. (Particularly re: scrums)
Now that PO'B is gone we'll see if the IRB will get their act together on how officiating is done.
Another on pitch referee? Stronger involvement from touch judges,(They only seem to get involved when there is a question of dangerous play rather than technical infringements)? Use of TMO to advise of infringements going back to the last set play or ruck prior to a try? Options for Captain to request TMO judgement?
I know we all have our favourite refs to hate but the sad fact is that when you look at the refereeing standards below international level they get far far worse.
Posted 10:21 27th March 2012
andyroo says...
The professional game is dominated by coaches and the IRB's "choice" of elite referees is determined ultimately by the member unions' ability to supply. The referees in recent years are nearly all unwilling to show any personality, coming across as metronomic and soulless - which is what the coaches demand. Although it is dangerous to draw comparisons with other sports, it is possible for countries to provide excellent officials on the world stage even if those countries "are off the beaten track". There is no reason for the IRB continuing to ignore officials from the likes of Argentina, Italy, USA & Canada other than "politics".
I believe in the "2 strikes & you're out" approach. Though if someone had as awful an experience as happened in RWC2011 with Bryce Lawrence, then "1 strike". The IRB's problem is that it (PO'B?) retired several referees in recent years who were still more than capable, thereby bringing others to the front who didn't have the necessary experience. I don't see replacements short-term for Barnes & Pearson (England) & there are other countries (Wales, Scotland, Australia & New Zealand) to name but 4 who are finding out the hard way that fast-tracking referees through professional academies is playing into the hands of the coaches. Coaches are brutal, happy to discard hopefuls who don't meet their perceived standards. Refereeing rugby is a bit like graduating as a doctor, it takes at least 5-6 years & you're always needing re-training. Coaches won't wait that long, preferring the 1 year short-term Masters approach. No wonder the top end of the game is in a mess, trouble is the impact it's having on the rest of the game.
Posted 18:26 26th March 2012
Ramage says...
Interesting the use of home country TMOs has been dropped after the debacle of Muewesen overstepping his brief and telling telling Clancy information he wasnt entitled to. Also interesting that Muewesen a failed Super Rugby referee is not even on the panel of any of the June tests be interesting to know if he too has been dropped from officiating at tests. After his bungle in the Port Elizabeth test and his failure to comprehend what Joubert was asking in that Bulls match, is it any wonder this person has also been given the boot.
Oh dear Joubert that terrible referee has been given two Wales V Australia tests. Owens two Ireland V NZ tests and Walsh two England V South Africa tests. Clancy two France V Argentina tests. Seems once again Argentina have been given the rum deal. Rolland, Poite and Pollock picking up 1 each of the major tests and other referees getting some of the other tests.
Posted 14:10 26th March 2012