Wayne Barnes to referee Rugby World Cup final
Associated PressEngland’s loss is Wayne Barnes’ gain. The most experienced referee in test history will control the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday in Paris. Barnes has controlled five games at this World Cup and dished out six yellow cards, including two yellows against New Zealand as it stunned Ireland 28-24 in the quarterfinals. Asked if Erasmus contributed to the shambles, Barnes said, “If people see people in positions who are meant to uphold the values of our game openly criticizing referees then it allows others to say, ‘People in positions of power can criticize, why can’t I?’” He received similar abuse and threats at the start of his career from All Blacks supporters in 2007 when he missed a forward pass in France’s match-winning try against New Zealand in the quarterfinals. It’s allowed me to meet wonderful people, amazing players, let me have that breadth of friendship which, growing up in a working-class part of the world, I couldn’t have imagined.” The only other Englishman to referee a Rugby World Cup decider, Ed Morrison, was also the occasion of the only previous final between the Springboks and All Blacks in 1995.
History of this topic
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