Rugby: Referee boss backs Lawrence

Former Lions hooker Brian Moore says Kiwi ref Bryce Lawrence is not fit to officiate in test matches. Photo / Getty Images

Bryce Lawrence has been defended for his officiating in the first tests between the Springboks and the Lions in South Africa.

Lawrence was attacked in print by former England and Lions hooker Brian Moore, who believed Springboks flanker Schalk Burger should have been sent off for the eye gouge on Luke Fitzgerald in the second test at Pretoria which the Lions lost 28-25 to cede the series.

Moore said Lawrence had refereed poorly in the first test at Durban, won 26-21 by the hosts, and was remiss in not recommending a red card after witnessing the Burger incident in the opening minute.

Lawrence told French referee Christophe Berdos the offence warranted a yellow card "at least" and Berdos sinbinned the flanker.

"The man that has cost the Lions dear, in not one, but both test games, is Bryce Lawrence, of New Zealand," Moore wrote in London's Telegraph newspaper.

"If Lawrence, as touch judge, is incapable of linking the vileness of an act occurring two feet away and the proper sanction of a red card, he is not fit to officiate."

NZRU referee manager Lyndon Bray said Lawrence should be praised for spotting the incident and did little wrong from there.

"In terms of law, the ref is the guy who has to ultimately make the decision and I fully back what Bryce did," Bray told the Dominion Post. "I admire the fact he saw it, because often these incidents are missed because they happen away from the ball and on the ground, so I thought he did an admirable job of seeing it in the first place.

"Then he took a discretion is the better part of valour attitude in terms of the extent to which he forced the issue of yellow or red card."

Moore also attacked Lawrence's control of the scrums in the first test, which South Africa dominated.

Bray described Moore's attack as "extremely unfortunate".

- NZPA