How much was Referee Wayne Barnes paid by French? (remember Laporte has govt connections and aspirations)?

Question

The Rugby World Cup held in France in 2007 has been dramatically influenced by the decisions of one man, Referee Wayne Barnes. 3 key and peculiar decisions made by him; 1- to send off All Black Luke McAllister; 2- Allowing a try from a forward pass without checking with the video ref; and 3- Playing advantage from a 50m field goal attempt, show that his governance of the game was far from impartial.

French Coach Bernard LaPorte is a political and influential man. The World Cup is a premier world event bringing tourism and coverage to France.

Was the game fixed? And for how much?

For those that query the validity of the question look into recent history when International Cricket, after years of denial of match fixing, was scandalised by the Hansie Cronje affair.

Answer 1

Hey Cruzy p the advantage was only for a knock on.... Not a penalty. A drop goal attempt is a fair enough advantage for a scrum I reckon. McAlister should have either taken the scrum or just played on. He was never going to knock over a rushed 50m attempt.

The touch judges are not allowed to rule on forward passes. Didn't you hear about that? Before the RWC started they decided that touch judges can only rule on kicks at goal, foul play and the touchline. The touch judges are not allowed to rule on things like offsides, forward passes, knock ons, crocked throws to the lineout, hands in the ruck etc....

Lets just get over it mate. I was pretty bitter at the ref during the game and was quite disappointed for awhile. The rest of the world is laughing at us because of the way we are poorly handling this loss. Time to get over ourselves I think.

Answer 2

Mate, you are fully reaching.

Chill out brother, the ABs LOST.

Life goes on.

Answer 3

Listen, bad loser, all the ABs had to do was to drop kick the ball and they would have won. Even England seem to able to manage that.

Maybe the ABs tire themselves out with their pathetic haka.

Answer 4

Just letting you know that in rugby union the video referee can only judge what is in the in goal :)

Answer 5

The game was fixed by the referee.   He have to tell the rugby public what was his compensation to fix the game.    No reasonable referee would have been so bad as Barnes -  all answer is the game was fixed by the referee

Answer 6

I thought AB were the Best... But if I understand well what you're saying, AB need referee's decisions to win a game. That's why you're angry, because this time, without referee on your side, you loosed.

Soory man, I had a best opinion on AB before read your question...

By the way, what you say about Laporte is very fair again...

Answer 7

Way to many mistakes for any person to beleive he was unbiased. Betfair turned over 35 mill on the game, just one of many betting companies. How much is it worth to the home unions ? Anyone who thinks corruption doesn't exist in sport is totaly naive. I guess the current scandal in tennis and 3 top jockeys in the Old bailey this week are a mistake as well. Wake up this is how business is done.

Answer 8

I find it revealing that you can possibly think that, because a South African cricketer was crooked, it follows that an English rugby referee might be. The reason that cricket had a problem is because of the level of gambling that goes on in Asia over it. I doubt that the RWC is subject to the same pressures. Referees miss things, that's the game, live with it. No doubt at all that NZ were favourites and potentially the best team in the world coming into the RWC - the mistake was not playing their best team together in the competition, the warm ups and even the TriNations - when it comes down to the difficult areas players respond better if they can look around and see familiar faces and a familiar structure - France had that, NZ didn't - see ya. Stop trying to be clever and put your best team out always... NZ are long overdue for a world cup win, no one is going to begrudge it when they finally manage it, but their failings are no ones fault but their own, so get a bit of dignity and behave like the class act you profess to be.

Answer 9

I don't believe anyone was paid off, but 'Why is it wrong to blame the Referee and his team of Officials?' Yes, France played an awesome game and so did the All Blacks. Both Teams played their hearts out, but was Rugby still the winner on the day? No!

Because the question still has to be asked about the standard of the refereeing. Yes, the All Blacks in the past has lost games because of their performance and for this World Cup everyone want us to put the blame on the All Blacks for not making good use of the ball. But can a team do this if the refereeing is not up to standard and fails to make good use of his other officials? Patty O’Brain has asked us to look at the game as a whole  and not to blame the referee, I not should if we’re watching the same game he is? I guess that is one way of passing the buck.

Referees should be held accountable and it importance they are for the good of the game and any game that may be. Consistence is all we ask for in any game and with the use of video, computers and the technology why is this so hard? Millions of dollars is spent and given in support of players and good refereeing, so whats wrong  with commenting on the referee?

As coaches, are they having to teach players to adapt to the referee and if so, how is this possible if the referee is not consistence?

Yes we lost and we should get over it, but for the future of Rugby why is so wrong to voice opinion to ensure the level of refereeing is kept at it highest?

Answer 10

get over yourselves, So'colio's try  (sorry I know I spelt his name wrong) was a double movement and McCalister went off for REPEAT offenses.

Or is it only the decisions that didnt go your way that you have an issue with (oh and the TMO cant rule on forward passes, h**l you dont even know the rules).

You Kiwis need some domestic soccer so that your Rugby can be left up to sports fans like up in the NH.

Answer 11

I say that ref want a .... I mean sure he made mistakes but on a game as important as this, why  didn't they put the most experience ref on. Its disgusting that a game was won in such a way and as for being payed off well hey hes smart enough to know how to get around the law isn't he? I will and millions others will be dirty bout this for years to come. TELL THAT IDIOT TO STAY IN LAW. He should be shot!!

Answer 12

Things that bad for you guys down there then?

1- to send off All Black Luke McAllister;

At first, I thought this was a bad decision myself, but after looking at a few different angled replays, McAlister seems to run across Jauzion after the kick is put in - he is certainly looking at Jauzion rather than the ball, and if that is what Barnes saw, then he was certainly right to bin him. Either way,  it's good to see a ref not bottling a big decision against the ABs as per usual.

2- Allowing a try from a forward pass without checking with the video ref;

Good knowledge of the rules there. The referee cannot go to the video ref for a forward pass.

3- Playing advantage from a 50m field goal attempt.

And what exactly is wrong with this? Do elaborate.

Basically the guy made one clearly wrong decision all game (missing the forward pass). Tell me, how many games do you think you the ABs have won with forward passes - remember there is no momentum rule in rugby union!

I don't know about in NZ, but up here rugby is game of integrity. Please don't go around trying to ruin the name of the game because you are upset that you lost, it's terribly childish.

Answer 13

Wayne Barnes should go either go back to being a barrister or   be relegated to provincial games.He is not ready for the big stage.I myself couldnt believe he was given top level games given his age and inexperience.

  I dont think the game was fixed although you can never tell.Remember the cricket scandal a few years ago with South Africa? No I just think it was inexperience.The ABs didnt help their cause either by panicking.

Answer 14

u should learn rugby rules : the video referee is used only to focus what happened AFTER the try line.....!!!

Answer 15

Sour grapes or what?

If decisions go against you - they are bad decisions!

Kiwis can only win the RWC on home turf - fact!

Therefore you win next time.

Answer 16

It is amazing how ignorant many of the respondants to this question are, both in terms of the game and corruption in professional sport.

Something to think about:

An exerpt from an article by TREVOR MCKEWEN - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 5 August 2007

Stu Dickinson files a formal complaint to the IRB who refer Bernard Laporte's behaviour to the French union to investigate. O'Brien pledges no "whitewash" and that if the IRB aren't happy with the outcome they will take charge.

The outcome? Laporte writes an apology to Dickinson (in French even though he threatened and abused him in English). O'Brien says the matter is now closed. Laporte will be at the world cup.

Excuse me? I witnessed Laporte threaten Dickinson and wrote what I saw for the Sunday Star-Times.

That same weekend I left a message on O'Brien's phone to tell him I was happy to provide an account of what I witnessed. I was somebody who had worked in sport for three decades and was appalled by what I saw.

Since the "matter is now closed", since I did not receive any communication from the French union or the IRB asking what I had seen as an independent witness, let me tell you - the rugby public - what I saw.

I saw a high-ranking official with huge power in the game blatantly, and in a sinister and calculating fashion, threaten a test referee, and imply he was going to make Dickinson's life merry h**l if he didn't change the way he controlled French matches.

I have worked in international rugby union. I know its politics. Laporte has the power and influence to carry out his threat.

Answer 17

Wouldn't put it past him. The refereeing was very one sided the whole game. Only two penalties against france all game and not one for a ruck infringement. Would be the first time in frances history that has happened.

Answer 18

you forgot; 4- offside at the ruck for 25 minutes

Answer 19

why I do believe you are stiring!!!.... its been 2 days get over yourself and move on already!!....

edit:susan c all the way down there........ I think you may be right!! lets wait till 2011.....

Answer 20

Wow, can't believe that so many Kiwi's actually think the ref conned them out of the game...very sad.

As has been said previously, you need to update your understanding of the rules, and when it comes to forward passes, there are quite a few of them that go unnoticed every single match.

Im sure WB will be disappointed he missed the forward pass, but he didnt lose you the game, you're team thought they would walk this world cup and once again they didnt have the togetherness and killer instinct to win a tight match.

Losers must learn to channel their frustration into positive action. I very much doubt your team is at home cursing the ref, they'll be assessing their individual and team errors that cost them a berth in the semi finals of the 2007 World Cup.

Answer 21

If i had a dollar for every questionable pass that led to an allblacks try over the past couple years i would be a rich man.  Just the past summer there were at least two forward passes that led to tries against the French.  These things even out.  Ycard; The allblacks cynically pulled down a rolling maul 5 m from the line and then McAlister takes out Jauzion off the ball, I'm surprised there was not a penalty try.  Finally, advantage knock on is not the same as a penalty advantage.  UnLucky Luke knew that before he hoped for drop goal glory.  The all blacks were fairly beaten mate.

Answer 22

why is it that everytime NZ lose it wasnt their fault

paid off the ref.... poisoned our food... sheesh

Answer 23

Tree ox, you lost man - get over it.  Buy the new all black bra (all support, no cup).

Answer 24

AB's loose .. that's sport, the show must go on ...

Answer 25

4 more years mate.

Answer 26

That's A Good One!

Answer 27

Wayne Barnes is a Barrister. He has risen to the very top of his profession. I am sure that if this accusation was thrown around publically he would eat the people accusing him for breakfast.