Share

McCaw hits out at Lawrence

Cape Town - Although he steered clear of any controversial claims about referees in his newly released autobiography The Open Side, All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw did suggest that England's Wayne Barnes may have been out of his depth in the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

"This was Barnes' biggest game by far. On the big stage, an inexperienced referee is likely to become so afraid of making a mistake that he stops making any decisions at all.

"By the end of it, I thought Barnes was frozen with fear and wouldn't make any big calls."

According to the Stuff.co.nz website, McCaw's analysis of fellow New Zealander Bryce Lawrence's performance in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final between Australia and South Africa was very similar, although it came as no surprise to McCaw who had suffered at the hands of Lawrence in the Super Rugby final against the Reds earlier that year, which the Reds won 18-13.

"Australia are lucky to beat South Africa in Wellington, after Bryce Lawrence does what he did in Brisbane in the Super 15 final - freezes, and forgets to blow his whistle," he wrote.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1223 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
30% - 1419 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2152 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE