France's Frederic Michalak breaks clear to score from what many saw was a forward pass. Photo / Getty Images
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has weighed into a bitter stoush over the touch judges' role in the World Cup, saying they were "de-powered" by rugby's administrators.
The feud has arisen after New Zealander Peter Thorburn, coach of the US rugby team, claimed on Radio Sport that touch
judges were told not to interfere on issues of forward passes, offside and crooked lineout throws during matches.
The comments drew a firm rebuke from International Rugby Board referee manager New Zealander Paddy O'Brien, who called Thorburn a liar.
Touch judges in the All Blacks' quarter-final loss to France were criticised for failing to pick up on a blatant forward pass, missed by the referee, that led to a crucial French try.
Yesterday, on his return to New Zealand, Henry was asked whether the World Cup touch judges had been de-powered.
He replied: "They were de-powered. I think they were asked not to keep on interfering all the time. With obvious transgressions of the rules, they were asked to interfere. Mainly that was on foul play, to be fair.
"I think you found, in the lineout, for example, [that] questionable throws which were pulled up prior to the World Cup weren't pulled up.
"But a blatant forward pass should be called by a line umpire."
O'Brien told Radio Sport yesterday that Thorburn had "basically ... lied to the people of New Zealand".
"Touch judges were told to call clear and obvious infringements. If they call offside, we want the referee to act on that call."
What the IRB did not want were marginal calls raised, because that put confusion into the referees' minds. "I think it's very mischievous of [Thorburn]. "
Thorburn said he stood by his comments and took exception to being called a liar.
There had been a bit of "scurrying for cover" over the touch judge debate. Englishman Wayne Barnes, who has come in for stinging criticism of his handling of the All Blacks' quarter-final, was "out of his depth" without touch judge support, Thorburn claimed.
Henry was unwilling to jump on the bandwagon in criticising Barnes. He did not want to be seen to "bitch and moan".
"That's not our job. I think other people are doing that for us, and that's the way it should be."
