Ref's; what makes 'em good, what should they be trying to do.

[Hawko]

Vinnie Munro is a bit of a referee journeyman. He got a chance when NZ lost Honiss, Bray, Walsh & Deaker in the same year. He is 42 or 43 already and not considered to be a potential IRB referee. He has good rapport with the players and is therefore a popular referee. He didn't referee as much at the end of S14 as he is not part of the top tier (4 Safas, Dickinson, B.Lawrence & Keith Brown).

He does seem to have a level of maturity about his reffing but still seems to keep up despite his age. I'd much rather have Munro than Bryce Lawrence or Brown. I understand why the Kiwis like Lawrence, he lets anything go around the ruck - watching his reffing made me feel the NLI's had passed him by. I thought Munro was excellent in the (two?) S14 games he had, but clearly the assessors came to a different view. But it still amazes me that Lawrence is rated highly and Munro is not.

 

[chief]

I've been a big fan of Munro, Joubert and Dickinson this year. They were the 3 best. Dickinson let nothing go at the rucks, and anyone who was in the wrong was generally pinned. Players knew they could not get away with stuff from Dickinson. Joubert was consistent, and Munro allowed for a good flowing game of Rugby. Strangely enough two of those referees are not going to be refereeing many top games.

 

[Thomond78]

Look, if it were a choice of Lee Grant or Bryce Lawrence as ref for a game, I'd be handing the whistle to the Ancient of Days in the 'Tahs gear. He might spend half the game digressing, but he'd still get more decisions right.

 

[Lee Grant]

I'd go with the vibe and be no worse Bryce at the end - though I may have trouble keeping pace with some of the faster wingers.