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'Refs making game a lottery'

Wellington - Substandard refereeing is making rugby a lottery and the International Rugby Board should be looking at improving standards, All Blacks coach Graham Henry said on Wednesday.

Henry made the statement during a conference call on when he was asked about his thoughts on the standard of this year's Super 14 between teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

"Generally speaking the better games are probably being refereed by the better refs," Henry said. "Some of those games have become a bit of a lottery which is disappointing.

"I think we hide behind the laws quite a bit rather than trying to work hard in trying to improve the officiating.

"If we can improve the people with the whistle and those assisting them we'll get a better game."

Henry said he thought that a global panel of between 10-12 referees controlled by one person at the IRB should be introduced to help raise the standards.

"I think that would help. It would produce consistency of performance, and it would also produce competition amongst referees to get better.

"I look at games around the world and quite often the referees I believe are the best often produce the best product for viewers. That's pretty important.

"So if we can increase our ability in this area, increase the product that's produced, the fans will be happy about that."

Henry said he had spoken to IRB referees boss, and fellow New Zealander, Paddy O'Brien about the idea, who had been positive.

"I guess there's a few little hills to climb, because these people would have to live in a particular area of the world for a certain period of time so they were all together getting tuition and improving their performance.

"Those complications don't make it easy, but for officiating to be the best it can be you need to make some sacrifices.

"Everyone involved in the game needs to work hard on trying to improve the standard of the officials."

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