By WYNNE GRAY
Referee Stuart Dickinson is unruffled about the extra scrutiny he will face on his first trip to New Zealand since recommending England lock Simon Shaw's dismissal at Eden Park.
Dickinson controls tomorrow's first test between the All Blacks and Pacific Islanders after the visitors were slated by Wallaby coach Eddie Jones for their tackling techniques.
Any rumblings of discontent about his decisions or implied pressure that he should alter his style were deflected by Dickinson.
"I would do the game a disservice if I went in with any preconceived ideas about how either side will play.
"In any game you can get high tackles, but it is not fair to single out one side. You look at both teams and judge what is in front of you."
Jones was sour after losing Joe Roff, George Gregan, Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone to injury during his side's 29-14 win last weekend against the Pacific Islanders.
The coach was unimpressed with the control of referee Andre Watson.
But Dickinson, who ran touch for the Islanders' earlier tour match against the Waratahs, said he had no problems with the visitors' discipline in that game or the Adelaide test.
"There is a lot of hot-air after games. As a referee I steer clear of the mind games and just rule on the laws and the game."
Dickinson found an ally in All Black coach Graham Henry, who thought Jones had been "a bit irritable" as any coach would have been after losing players to serious injury.
"But it didn't seem to be any more physical than most games you would play at international level," Henry added.
The All Blacks have been concentrating on lineout and scrum work for the Albany test.
Lock Keith Robinson survived several training sessions yesterday on his tender knee. Vice-captain Richie McCaw continued his standown after being concussed in the opening test against England.
Scrutiny no worry for test referee
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