Ref rage goes into overdrive
Thousands of South Africans are still flooding an online petition to have a referee banned from the game, following his performance in Australia’s 11-9 quarterfinal win over the Springboks last Sunday.
South Africa enjoyed 78 percent possession as well as fifteen plays of more than five phases, but could not get over the try-line in Wellington as Australia snatched the win with a James O’Connor penalty nine minutes from time.
The “Petition to stop Bryce Lawrence ever reffing a rugby game again” is making plenty of news in World Cup host nation New Zealand, after more than 65,500 Facebook users had confirmed by Thursday that they liked the site.
Lawrence has been accused by Springboks fans of egregious oversights in his handling of the quarterfinal, particularly at the breakdown where flank David Pocock provided a deluge of turnovers for the Wallabies.
One fan on the page even went as far as to call for a re-match.
“The Boks deserve a rematch!” said Kim-Leigh Kristen Davids. “WE DEMAND A REMATCH! We can beat da Aussies in our sleep!! (without Bryce Lawrence as the ref).”
New Zealand newspapers have picked up comments attributed to Andre Watson, a referee in two World Cup finals and a referee manager in South Africa, as saying Lawrence will “be punished”.
The former Test referee, Watson, who is now the South Africans referees manager has also been highly critical of Lawrence.
“He allowed a free-for-all.”
“This meant ace Australian fetcher, David Pocock, was able to have a field day, constantly disrupting the Springboks’ flow,” he told 567 Cape Talk Radio.
“It’s not what you would expect from a referee of his calibre – he didn’t referee the breakdown the way he was supposed to. He just didn’t step in.”
* Bryce Lawrence at his best!
