Already vilified by many in the media and Springbok fans at large, the knife was further twisted by South African referees manager André Watson, himself formerly a Test referee, who said he was dumbfounded by the New Zealander’s performance in Wellington on Sunday.
South Africans have accused Lawrence of getting several key decision horribly wrong, and particularly of failing to rein in Wallaby openside flanker David Pocock from illegally spoiling the Springboks’ ball and flow.
Defending world champions South Africa went on to lose 11-9 despite dominating about 70 per cent of possession.
Watson told a Cape Town radio show on Tuesday: “His opening game [at the World Cup] was outstanding. I had no problem with his appointment.
“But [in the quarter-final] he allowed a free-for-all, giving Pocock a field day.
“It’s not what you would expect from a referee of his calibre – he didn’t referee the breakdown the way he was supposed to. He just didn’t step in.”
Despite the IRB saying that no public action would be taken against Lawrence, Watson believes the Kiwi will be hauled over the coals in some way.
“He will be punished, but that’s up to the IRB. I do not believe we will see him in any Rugby World Cup again,” Watson said.
Ironically, Australians accused him earlier in the tournament of making poor key decisions when the Wallabies crashed 15-6 to Ireland a pool game.
Afterwards, Lawrence admitted making mistakes against the Wallabies, especially regarding scrummaging, which accounted for six penalties at critical stages.
His contrition may have played some part in being awarded a quarter-final, but, having been overlooked for this weekend’s semi-finals, he is highly unlikely to feature at RWC 2011 again.
Lawrence also has some previous with British and Irish supporters, coming in for a wave of criticism regarding his handling of the first Test between the Lions and South Africa in Durban in June 2009, won 26-21 by the hosts.
Even if the IRB does not take public action, Lawrence will be in no doubt that he’s taken over the mantle of most-disliked referee from England’s Wayne Barnes, who received a pasting from New Zealanders after missing a French forward-pass at a key stage in the All Blacks’ quarter-final defeat in Cardiff at the 2007 World Cup.
A Facebook petition launched immediately after the South Africa-Australia match on Sunday, calling on the Kiwi to never again be given a match, had more than 55,000 members by Tuesday and was still growing at pace.
