Cup referees feet go back on throat

Leading New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence is ready to make the most of his first, and probably only, opportunity to whistle at a Rugby World Cup.

Lawrence and the World Cup refereeing panel spent last weekend at Paihia team-building, but this week have been down to business after International Rugby Board referees' boss Paddy O'Brien called for a crackdown in "five key areas" of the game - breakdown, scrum, the offside line, mauls and foul play .

O'Brien said referees had "taken their foot off the throat" in recent months on the rule changes, which were introduced 18 months ago after the former laws produced matches dominated by kicking and defence.

Lawrence, 40, said O'Brien's criticism of a slip in standards was fair.

"Eighteen months ago when the new laws came in, we went quite hard and firm, but have perhaps slackened by 10 per cent. Paddy wants us to ratchet back up to a better standard, mainly round creating more space for players and better quality ball. They aren't drastic changes, perhaps more of a re-focus," the Tauranga-based former school principal said.

Lawrence was touch judge in France four years ago but, as one of the world's top-ranked officials, will carry a hefty workload in the next few weeks after referee numbers were cut from 12 to 10.

He kicks off tomorrow when Argentina play England in Dunedin, followed by Australia v Ireland, in Auckland, on September 17, Fiji v Samoa, in Auckland, September 25, and Australia against Russia on October 1, in Nelson.

He will also be touch judge in three pool play games and television match official a couple of times.

"This World Cup the workload's probably 25 per cent heavier than last time and everyone's doing more, as well as occasionally backing up. After the Australia-Ireland game on the 17th, I fly to Napier the next morning to touch judge. It makes it quite tough, especially because they're all big games, but that's part of the challenge."

Any role in the World Cup beyond pool play is a decision O'Brien will make based on merit. Lawrence's schedule and the fact he's refereeing, and not just on the sideline this time, means there will be little downtime.

"The focus is on backing up week to week, being at 100 per cent for every game and staying mentally fresh so I don't follow a good game with a flat performance.

"My attitude is that the time is now. It's taken me a while to get here, and will almost definitely be my last World Cup, so now's the time to deliver."