Ex-selector blames IRB for poor refs

The IRB is being blamed for the current state of refereeing and how it affects play in the Super 14.

Former All Black selector Earle Kirton believes the world governing body has to take a lot of responsibility.

Kirton said rugby in the Northern Hemisphere is completely different, but Southern Hemisphere officials appear to be refereeing along the same lines.

He said things might improve with Paddy O'Brien at the IRB, but he believed all referees around the world at the moment are trying to uniformly ref the game, which he said does not work.

Earle Kirton said the answer to the current breakdown mess and situations where players are unable to free the ball quickly, is to allow driving in over the top and rucking back into the game.

- NEWSTALK ZB