Walsh back in refereeing spotlight
South African referees will make up half of Sanzar’s core merit panel for the 2010 Super 14.
Jonathan Kaplan, Mark Lawrence, Marius Jonker and Craig Joubert are all on the eight-man panel along with three New Zealanders (Bryce Lawrence, Chris Pollock, Keith Brown) and one Australian, Stuart Dickinson.
Kiwi Steve Walsh is named as one of four Australian refs on the reserve panel. Walsh had his NZRFU contract terminated for a drinking problem, but has since reignited his career in Australia.
The Super Rugby referees and reserves have been selected for the first time under a new Sanzar selection process. The new Sanzar referee selectors – Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Andrew Cole (Australia) and Tappe Henning (South Africa) – will closely monitor referee performances as part of a promotion/relegation system.
‘This performance-based system ensures we are open, transparent and accountable as match officials,’ said acting Sanzar referee manager Lyndon Bray. ‘We are also looking ahead to developing our depth in international referees, so some of our selections reflect the confidence we have in supporting upcoming talent from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
‘We will be staying true to the goal of at least 80% of the matches being refereed by our top officials.’
Merit Panel:
Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert, Mark Lawrence, Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Bryce Lawrence, Chris Pollock, Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Reserve Panel:
Steve Walsh, Nathan Pearce, Paul Marks, Ian Smith (Australia)
Jaco Peyper, Pro Legoete (South Africa)
Vinny Munro, Garratt Williamson, Jonathon White (New Zealand)
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 am
Not the best Dragon on the planet this guy. Imo…
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 am
What is a drinking problem….
Meaning he has a throat problem or what…..
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 am
So the Australian momma’s boy is not on any if the panels. What is his name again?
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
I see dear George Ayob didn’t crack it neither
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
And how did the ****’s son make it onto the panel after two castigations in one year, one in S14 and the other during the NH tours?
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
Oh dear my post is being moderation, okai let me put it in a less blunt manner, how come Dickenson is in when he has been castigated twice in one season? Once during S14 and the other just recently in the NH tours? Surely he is not a merit selection more like an Australian quota?
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:27 am
With the exception of one young man with a genetic predisposition to alcohol abuse you never hear of Bok players in alcohol fuelled scandals.
The Aussies and the Kiwi’s are up to it at every opportunity even their referee’s!
I can forgive all the citing **** ups and poor reffing decisions in the past now I know that the best of australasia are always pie-eyed but I do think SARU should insist on breathalysers for refs and citing commissioners before they conduct their duties.
(I particularly liked Smitty’s account of having to pick Dan Carter out of a bush at Sun City and find the drunkard somewhere safe to sleep it off. If I was Smitty I would have accidentally dropped him down some stairs- Crocking their star player and avoiding a citing, Nice!)
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 am
Good news. The less blind ANZAC refs the better. Who here remembers the farce that was the Brumbies v Bulls game?
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Well done Refs…..I personally think that Stu Berry should be there as well on the reserve panel (maybe its cause he’s on the 7’s circuit though)….he came onto the Currie Cup scene this year and I thought that he was superb….young and fresh approach to reffing and I think he’s SA’s next Kaplan! Stu, SA awaits your climb in reffing to the top!
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:49 am
This is why the SH has the best refs in the sport! If you ref **** you don’t get the big games. But I guess if the NH had to implement this they would not have any refs for their games as all their refs are ****.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 am
How is it possible that Marius Jonker can be on the list?
There was an outcry after nearly every match he officiated last season – remember Lions versus Griquas; WP versus Cheetahs etc.
It smells like a quota to me.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
@Robzim:
Early Bird!!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
@carol:
No, late nite, I am off to bed now.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:24 am
@Robzim: Howzit Rob…
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
@grant10:
Hi, I’m fine,just a bit tired, drove through the night.
I am quite surprised to see MJ on the ref list – I am still cross with him after the Cheetah debacle.
Seems like tomorrow is going to be a bit of a jol in the town?
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
@Lions_Soutie: Who Matt Goddard? I’ll miss him, I remember him calling Bakkies big ears LOL
I doubt if he’d say it to him if they met in a dark alley somewhere.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
@Robzim: Hi…yes….Blonde and i gonna do the inner city walk around Fri nite with the WC draw…Cape Town is pumping, can only be great for the City…..
Look forward to watching a few games with you next season Rob, we must make a plan to go to the Boland Stormers friendly at the new Green point stadium, Feb 4 th, should be awesome.
Gotta run…have a good one, enjoy the rest!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 am
@grant10:
U must enjoy. Say cheers to the Blonde.
See u.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 am
@Robzim: Blogging is a great way to wind down unless a huge argument breaks out…..
Sleep well!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
@grant10: Enjoy the chilled Windhoek!
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
@Staal: When you are very thirsty all the time
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
How on EARTH do Deaf Dumb and Blind idiots like Joubert and Plonker get another bite of the cherry ?!
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:13 pm
@WakaNathan: Because the alternatives are too useless to contemplate…?
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Who is Keith Brown? And why is Vinny Munro not on the prefered list? Dickinson is obviously a quota next year just it would look embarrassing if Australia cannot produce a single ref of quality. However, Dickinson has reffed many good games and should be given another chance.
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Steve Walsh – Australia?
December 4th, 2009 at 5:01 am
Walsh is a tosser and should only ref bgrade games. hic, hic .. As for Dicko whos performances were shite, this is joke. hic..with their gambling mate Paddy. Not punting with Packer hey!
December 4th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Whew, PoB may have to come out of retirement. It’s not a good sign for SA rugby to have so many refs on the panel – it means they are not doing the dirty work for their country, unlike our antipodean pals offerings.