Australian referee Matt Goddard has been stood down for at least a week. The man who handed out five yellow cards and one red during the Super 14 match between the Hurricanes and Bulls did not fare well in his official review.
After naming the match officials for this week's round of matches yesterday, New Zealand referees boss Lyndon Bray confirmed what everyone at Westpac Stadium last Friday already knew: Goddard got it wrong.
"Matt, by his own admission, put his hand up and said he got the balance wrong on the night," Bray said. "We all agreed he had clarity of what he wanted to achieve spot-on but, on review [of] some of the decisions, he was too technically minded in giving yellow cards for some of the offences."
In a refreshing move, the New Zealand Rugby Union's high-performance referees manager was happy to talk about Goddard's performance review.
Most fault was found in the sinbinning of Bulls openside Pedrie Wannenburg in the first half and of his Hurricanes opposite number Scott Waldrom just after halftime.
Although the review found both decisions had, technically, been penalty offences, neither had warranted a yellow card, Bray said.
"In reviewing that, he's accepted that he went too far with his punishment for those particular infringements ... he was too hard-nosed technically.
"We have decided it's best to stand down for the time being and Matt will go away and work out an action plan going forward."
Goddard has been bracketed to referee a match in a fortnight's time, but Bray said a decision would be made closer to the time.
"If we have signed off the review and he feels like he's in the right space, then he'll be back for that round."
Goddard accepted he would be criticised, but Bray urged people not to write off referees unfairly because of one "off-night".
"I think it's important to note that Matt was refereeing very well up to this point and, in fact, had been complimented in many quarters," Bray said. "One bad night at the office does not make him a bad referee."
The Hurricanes and Bulls will no doubt be glad to see that Goddard has been held accountable for a performance that frustrated players and coaches from both sides.
Perhaps more pleasing for the Hurricanes is that they have South Africa's Jonathan Kaplan, arguably the best referee in the competition, for Sunday's match against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Kaplan is one of three members of Sanzar's nine-man merit panel who will carry the whistle this weekend.
Interestingly, South African Mark Lawrence is also rested this week, despite high praise for his officiating of the free-flowing Chiefs-Blues match in Hamilton.
