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Brumbies want Walsh axed

Canberra - The Brumbies have panned referee Steve Walsh's performance and called for his axing from Saturday's crucial Super 14 clash against the red-hot Reds.

According to the Rugby Heaven website, still upset about Walsh's controversial handling of the 19-12 loss to the Waratahs, Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau felt it was pointless for the Brumbies to line up at Canberra Stadium if the Sydney-based New Zealander was officiating.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend on Monday remained hopeful Walsh would be dropped from the pivotal match by SANZAR referees convenor Lyndon Bray following the weekly review of officials on Tuesday

"We'll wait and see whether he's the referee," Friend said in Canberra.

"They have a review on Tuesday and they have got a promotion and relegation system and hopefully you would like to see that in place and working.

"That's up to the selectors to give their view and we can only deal with what we see and I thought the first 30 minutes it wasn't a very even contest."

It's understood the Brumbies outfit completed a scathing report of the refereeing at ANZ Stadium last Saturday night where they were unhappy with numerous areas, especially a disallowed try to Adam Ashley-Cooper and countless scrum resets and penalties.

Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles and Walsh had some heated verbal exchanges during the match.

Giteau was frank when asked whether he was hoping Walsh would be relegated.

"I think everyone is," the frustrated flyhalf said. "Mate I don't know if we will turn up - what's the point?"

Giteau also failed to suppress his opinion about the dubious "double-movement" ruling against Ashley-Cooper in the first half.

"Like anyone that knows rugby, that was a try," he said.

New Zealand-based Bray was not contactable on Monday but both the Brumbies, who are seven points outside the top four, and Reds will have their eyes on refereeing appointment confirmations on Tuesday.
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