It affected me: Bryce Lawrence
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Bryce Lawrence says his performance in last year's World Cup quarter-final was influenced by complaints from ARU chief executive John O'Neill.
Retired ref Lawrence claims he was hounded out of rugby by South Africa and Australia following his showing in the Springboks and Wallabies match.
"I had four really good games at the World Cup and then I had that," the 41-year-old told the Bay Of Plenty Times.
"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 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."
Australia won the game 11-9 which has now led to Lawrence calling it quits and taking up a role as the New Zealand Rugby Union high-performance referee reviewer. He was stood down from the International Rugby Board's elite panel after the World Cup and didn't referee any Super Rugby matches in South Africa.
"It (the reaction) got pretty bad," Lawrence said.
"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."
Last month, British & Irish Lions boss Warren Gatland highlighted the pressure Lawrence had been placed under by O'Neill as he outlined the challenges that await his squad.
"They are masters at it and possibly the best one was John O'Neill, as a master of influence in certain things," said 2013 touring coach Gatland.
"I'm not 100% sure, but I think that after Ireland beat Australia in that pool game, certain complaints were made about the referee (Lawrence), subtly and tactfully, and I think that had an impact on the quarter-final.
"We've got to be aware about what sort of things are going to be done on and off the field."
O'Neill is on his way out of his post at the ARU to focus on business interests outside rugby.
Comments
kiwilad says...
Bokavenger, It must be difficult wandering around with all of that hatred inside you,
Need some help??
PDV was an even worse coach than your current fellow, who after a season or two should be Judged, rather than after a handful of games.
The ABs side you played last year at home was no where near full strenght, Aus beat you because you could not score with a wealth of posession.
Loose the obsessions chap, its downright unhealthy..
Posted 23:12 17th October 2012
new_j4a says...
@philipjfry, yes, I'd like you to provide these instances you think you have the minute:second and the Law infringed. As far as I remember ther is only 1 error at 4:32.
Posted 22:14 17th October 2012
philipjfry says...
@golden_statenba: You can f- right off; political situation my ass. Ignorant prick.
Posted 20:59 17th October 2012
BokAvenger says...
@7ton: No. 95 WCup was the best there ever was. Maybe one of the best tournaments there ever was in all sports. They even make movies of it. It will go down in the annals of rugby mythology. 2011 will forever be remembered as the Rigged World Cup.
Posted 20:27 17th October 2012
golden_statenba says...
@BokAvenger/Bokvandam
It has bee crooked since 95 when like 7ton said the semi in between South Africa and france should never have been played thus france would have gone through due to South Africa's poor discipline but that would not have helped the political situation would it?
Then when it was played the try that france got was disallowed the gold watch is the proof.
The world cup is a joke it proves that one team is the best for the month that it is all.
I would rather my team be the most consistent team over 5 years.
As for the kick you still believe it missed on a foggy youtube video.
Maybe you should look forward rather then backwards
You do make me laugh tho ;)
Posted 17:52 17th October 2012
BokAvenger says...
@Trinuts2: If the Boks aren't good enough then why did O'Neill and his IRB cronies need to pressure Bryce Lawrence to fix that game?
Posted 17:36 17th October 2012
7ton says...
Bok Avenger
Yes NZ did limp into that final minus Carter and a injured McCaw (along with others)
Now that is probably why the score was so close unlike when they played France in the pool stages.
Credit also must be given to France for raising their game.
Now please do answer my previous questions
Posted 15:02 17th October 2012
Trader2 says...
Thanks Tricheat everyone will appreciate you are now giving credits for the lines you use, I promise I won't call you a cheat anymore (even though you are). Haven't you told another little fib though, you went to University, really? nah couldn't have. And come on, your 12 year old pleaded with you to go to the game didn't she? Please Dad don't embarrass me any more, you go off and have fun, maybe they won't lose by that much.
Some of the comments on this story are laughable, but really as pratts go BokA even leaves Trinats in his wake but I lost interest when he couldn't even get (Stephen) Donalds name right. The old BokA really is a few heifers short in the top paddock isn't he.
Posted 14:23 17th October 2012
westmoreland says...
@ Trinats2 says...
That article you refer to on the NZ herald...the author...he's Scottish and loves to bash the ABs....so dont take any offence if he starts bashing your team...probably to rile them up a bit so they stick ot to the ABs a bit!
Posted 14:10 17th October 2012
BokAvenger says...
@7ton: Who said Aus were seen as a bigger threat to the ABs in 2011? The only two teams who have managed to beat the ABs in NZ in the few years leading up to the 2011 RWC were SA and France. And the IRB made sure both of those teams were done in by crooked refs.
Posted 13:38 17th October 2012
BokAvenger says...
@Trinats2 - that's the recent record, which was in large part skewed by bias refereeing from your fellow sheepboys the kiwis. Why don't you look at the historical record which reads: 76 games played between Aus and SA. Boks have won 42 of those compared to 33 for Oz.
Posted 13:35 17th October 2012
philipjfry says...
@7ton: The 1/4 final in Cardiff? It's a while ago mate I can't really remember the game and with all due respect, I can't be asked to watch it again.
@gungehammer: 'The reason Lawrence is moving to another job while Barnes and Joubert continue lies solely in the disgraceful behaviour of the Bok supporters.'
Yes, by Lawrence's own admission, but that says more about his character than our behaviour. Mob mentality is the same the world over and not just typical to Springbok supporters.
@startledwombat: Well, your friends are right...right?
Posted 13:07 17th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
MacTavish:
"Typically Australian. Arrogant."
Are you sure !!! I looked up"Arrogant" and found this top of the list !!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10841091
PS
Trader, I had help from GaGR !!! (It's like I m back at Uni referencing !!)
Posted 12:54 17th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
BokAvenger:
"Furthermore, the recent result in Soweto has absolutely no bearing on what could have happened if the Boks had met the ABs in a semi"
What about the Boks record against Aus ?? is it 7 losses in 8 games ??and Bottom of Tri-nats Prior to and after RWC qf !!!! So MAYBE, just maybe, SA aren't good enough ???
Posted 12:32 17th October 2012
BokAvenger says...
@Startledwombat - RUBBISH!! The All Blacks limped into that world cup final. They were without their chief strike weapon Dan Carter and McCaw was playing with a severe injury. By rights they should have lost to France but Craig Joubert, no doubt under instructions from his crooked bosses at the IRB, made sure they won.
Furthermore, the recent result in Soweto has absolutely no bearing on what could have happened if the Boks had met the ABs in a semi. The Boks are a different team and now have a coach who is overly-conservative and whose game plan is downright outdated.
Posted 11:15 17th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
This is great ! Love it !
Good for sales for suncorp, coupled with the release of McCaws colouring book. I wasn't going to attend the game (daughters Bday), and that we didn't have a chance of winning, but have managed to get out of looking after heaps of 12 Year olds at a sleepover !!! Lucky I couldn't get rid for the tkts.
This is great to fire up the dead rubber. Not that Aus or NZ needs firing up for any clash.
As for lawrence, too late to say, I told he didn't have a clue !!!
Justice for SA and the QF !!! and Justice for Aus every other time he has been ref !!!
It's all coming out now and RWCs.
1995 Fixed - Suzie !!!
2007 Fixed (or just dame lucky the two weakest teams in SH/NH get to the final)
2011 Fixed - Refs, take your pick !!!
BokAvenger could be correct !!!
Lawrence, have you stopped to ask why you had "offical" complaints about the Aus V Ire game ??? (Aussies don't whinge like Saffas, I guess we get the wrong end of the Ref in every game and don't see the point !!!) So Bryce you just made up for your short falls in the Ire game with the Aus v SA game !!!!
Was it Paddy O's instructions or your own ???
Posted 11:06 17th October 2012
7ton says...
Damo
Re the Wales Ireland game there is an alternate viewpoint that it was noticed that the ball had gone into the crowd and the issue was actually whether the line-out had been properly formed before the replacement ball was thrown in. It appeared that Kaplan was rather impatient and did not really want to listen to the Scottish linesman when he was trying to explain.
I don't really know to be sure but perhaps you are being a bit harsh on the linesman.
Posted 10:41 17th October 2012
Felly says...
...and I thought this great game was above such petty, pathetic and disgraceful attittudes....referees are people who deserve to be treated with respect. He has stepped down due to undeserved hatred directed his away....
That sort of hatred I thought would only be reserved for football!
Posted 10:41 17th October 2012
bk47 says...
@BokAvenger
Dude its been a year. LET IT GO!
There are no conspiracies, IRB is not some big evil cooperation trying to taking over the world with the All Blacks as their front line and drop the crap about PR hiding something.
Man some people these days...lol
Posted 10:24 17th October 2012
Sasquatch says...
I don't believe that there was an incentive for the refs to hand the WC to New Zealand. That's pushing it. And BokAvenger: you're taking this far, far to personally bru, it's just a game man.
However, no doubt O'Neill is a shrewd and devious man. There have been plenty of examples over the course of his tenure. Good riddance.
And yes, Lawrence shouldn't have blown that game.
Posted 10:17 17th October 2012