Rugby: Barnes gets chance to set tone for World Cup

Aled de Malmanche during the All Blacks' open training session at Trusts Stadium yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

Controversial referee Wayne Barnes is on notice to set the World Cup benchmark when he whistles his first test in New Zealand next weekend.

International referees boss Paddy O'Brien wants a lift in standards as the All Blacks' opening test against Ireland in New Plymouth coincides with the start of the global laws agreement.

"Referees are under a fair bit of heat from us at the moment and if they don't scrub up they can forget about the World Cup," O'Brien told the Herald.

"We don't want them to be traffic cops out there, we are asking them to referee to the agreements the coaches and referees came to earlier this year. If a referee cops out, he will pay the consequences."

Assistant coach Wayne Smith hoped the All Blacks would be a step ahead of their opening rivals after the style they used on tour late last year and the rule amendments players had become familiar with during the Super 14.

"I think the law interpretations have helped what we are doing, they suit what we are trying to do, but we have got to get better at it," he said.

Ireland had some outstanding players and had shown in the Six Nations that they were trying to change their tactics. They were looking to play a fluent style, they were looking to raise their number of offloads and lift their pattern of continuity.

Smith felt the law amendments might mean a settling-in period on the international circuit. "The laws are clear though, it is about applying law so we just have to get on with that.

"You can't kill the ball on the ground, you can't slow it down, you have got to get out of there, it is a totally different game. So if they apply that law, I think it will be a great game," he added. O'Brien said the main changes Northern Hemisphere referees had to embrace would be calling the scrum sequence and policing the tackled-ball area.

Those officials had been given plenty of notice and he expected them to be vigilant about offsides from kicks, at the breakdown and the nuances of the maul formation.

"I don't believe it should be an excuse, that they are a bit rusty. The guys at the top level have to get it right.

"All referees and coaches are in agreement, we have a complete commitment and we have put the acid on that they are all singing from the same hymn sheet," O'Brien added.

Barnes' reputation took a hit after some decisions in the All Blacks 18-20 defeat in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final against France. A year later, Barnes was in charge of the All Blacks' test in Scotland and has run touch here and refereed in the national championship.

However the 31-year-old English law graduate has never controlled an All Blacks test in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the All Black selectors are unlikely to pick Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui or Tom Donnelly for next week's start to their test programme. All three are overcoming injury though it is hoped that Muliaina will play some club rugby soon.

Ireland are due to arrive late tomorrow and will train and stay in Auckland until late Thursday before they move to New Plymouth. That late arrival and Sunday departure has drawn some criticism from local identities as the city will host Ireland again next year during the World Cup.

Capacity at Yarrow Stadium has been bumped up to 25,500 and there are still several thousand tickets available.