By TREVOR MCKEWEN and MICHAEL DONALDSON - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 10 June 2007
Controversial French coach Bernard Laporte threatened to blackball Australian test referee Stu Dickinson during an extraordinary meeting on the eve of last night's international against the All Blacks.
A belligerent Laporte tackled Dickinson - who refereed New Zealand's 43-11 win against France last weekend and was a touch judge last night - in the foyer of a Wellington hotel.
During the exchange, witnessed by Fairfax general manager of sport, Trevor McKewen, Laporte appeared to imply he could negatively influence Dickinson's future career -including World Cup match appointments in France this year.
"If you are appointed to any French games at the World Cup, the French team will not turn up," Laporte said.
Dickinson has refereed France five times and the French have lost all five games.
Using his laptop, Laporte confronted Dickinson with selected highlights from last week's match and said: "You do this tomorrow and you will be finished."
Laporte's bullying conduct appears to contravene the IRB's code of conduct forbidding anyone from abusing, threatening or intimidating referees and touch judges.
It is normal for coaches to meet with referees, but highly unusual for them to meet with touch judges.
McKewen, who witnessed at least 15 minutes of the "meeting", said Dickinson appeared taken aback at the intensity of Laporte's attack. The whistle-blower was repeatedly harangued by the French coach as they sat at a table in the foyer of the City Life Hotel where the referee was staying.
"You are not being fair and reasonable," Dickinson said as Laporte repeatedly tried to show him footage of alleged All Black infractions in the first test.
But Laporte would not let up.
"We have had enough of you," said the French coach. "All the time you do this to us."
Laporte repeatedly took Dickinson to task over certain decisions he made in the first test, contending the All Blacks were awarded two tries they should not have been and that illegalities were allowed at the breakdown.
At one point, an exasperated but calm Dickinson tried to reason with Laporte, saying: "What are you suggesting? Are you saying you expect me to penalise every player I see on that side?"
Paddy O'Brien, the New Zealander in charge of the International Rugby Board's referees, told the Sunday Star-Times he would expect a report from Dickinson if the Australian felt threatened of intimated by Laporte's behaviour.
The IRB's code of conduct is clear on the intimidation of officials. Regulation 20.1.10 says a person "shall not abuse, threaten or intimidate a referee, touch judge or other match official, whether on or off the field of play".
O'Brien said: "I'm surprised to hear this and disappointed if it's true, but I need to hear from Stuart himself.
"If the meeting was out of hand I will hear from Stuart Dickinson. If there was a breach or Stu felt intimidated, I expect to hear from him.
"We will not have coaches telling us who will referee games."
Dickinson is already appointed to some World Cup pool matches in France and O'Brien said appointments from the quarterfinals on would be "made on merit".
O'Brien said he would also expect a report from Laporte if he was unhappy with either of the referees for the test matches here.
Laporte is a controversial figure in world rugby and has been vocal about the All Blacks and their coach Graham Henry in the week between tests. Despite France's poor recent international record in key matches, Laporte has managed to hold on to his job and is said to enjoy a strong relationship with key French rugby officials involved at World Cup and IRB level.
Last night's game was controlled by South African Craig Joubert. Dickinson was not available for comment last night.
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