RateTheRef

https://rugbyreferee.net/2018/12/07/six-nations-2019-match-officials-announced/

With the build up to the World Cup, keen interest being taken in who is getting these games. I gather that a panel of 12 referees only will control the matches at the W C, so some are going to be disappointed.
Interesting to see only 1 ref get 2 matches, the relatively inexperience Nic Berry of Australia who I think is a decent ref and has a promising future. Wayne Barnes game will be his swansong from the Six Nations in view of his imminent retirement. Sad to see no middle for Andrew Brace who I think will be the natural successor to John Lacey. And no involvement at all for J P Doyle or George Clancy.

Things could change in the next months with the Rugby Championship and a whole host of friendlies to come but I think World Rugby will have a pretty good idea already who will be off to Japan. Can I stick my neck out and suggest Barnes, Owens, Garces, Poite, Gardner, Jackson and (sadly) Peyper are almost certainties; I also think Gauzere and Raynal will make it and Berry and O'keefe which leaves one of Williams, Pearce, Carley, Brace and other hopefuls
Any thoughts anyone?

Disappointed that they will only take 12 as referees as I thought it would be a great opportunity to blood some new refs, knowing at least 2 of your top refs are retiring shortly after.
Owens, Barnes, Poite, Garces, Gardner, Jackson, Peyper and I think O'Keefe are shoe ins based on experience and appointments. I would like to see Brace there so not the greatest time not to get a middle
One of Raynal/Gauzerre, one of Pearce/Carley, maybe both of Williams and Berry
Good to see Anselmi and Kubo used as assistants, they will definitely go to World Cup. TMO list will be interesting. I think Rowan Kitt is no1, McDowell (who I am not convinced with gets good appointmemts), likewise with Skeen
Overall pleased with 6N games. Lets hope Owens oversees another try fest at Twickenham

2 weekends done and dusted, some good performances, some a little indifferent.
Barnes kicked it off well, thought Pearce did himself no harm at all and Garces was better than he has been (different views on the breakdown though)
Poite was inconsistent but surprised at Laidlow's comments. Raynal did fine, despite the lack of communication with TMO. Owens was v good, although I am not convinced it was a penalty try.
A few of the SH refs join in during round 3, including Jaco in Cardiff (I shall watch from behind the sofa)

My best And Worst So Far. Poite For Me Has Been the Worst, Very Inconsistent Refereeing. My Best Would Have To Be Nigel Owens, Refereed With Common Sense And Showed Great Understanding Of The Game. Game Management was excellent as well.

I think O'Keefe is a great ref but he too should have gone to his pocket sooner.
Looking forward to seeing Angus Gardner and Matt Carley. Paul Williams is decent, Cardiff's result will have a huge impact on how tough the Calcutta Cup becomes

I am not sure Williams will get an easier 6N game but he certainly played his part. No obvious errors and good use of TMO
Not sure I have fully recovered from watching the game 😎
Will catch up with the other 2 games tomorrow

I agree that Williams had a good game. Never saw the other 2 matches so can’t comment.
And so with the Six Nations now over and with only a plethora of friendlies in the main to come between now and the World Cup, the organising committee will need to be announcing soon the 12 on fiield refs for the competition, presumably from the 14 who have just been at the Six Nations.
So who goes and who will be disappointed?
In my original post starting this thread and in subsequent threads from others we have all thrown a few names into the hat. How much store will be put on recent performances and how much will reputation and experience count? Poite didn’t have a good match but he is normally reliable and should go but will all 4 French refs be on the plane? Do all 3 New Zealander refs make it? All 3 English refs? Can they ditch Peyper please (probably not as he is the only SA Ref sadly)?
My gut feeling is that one of the French and Carley will miss out. I hope the French Ref is Gauzere as I rate Raynal much better but that’s just my opinion.
Any thoughts anyone?

Just seen on the World Rugby site that the selection committee meets over the last weekend of March to finalise the referees, with an announcement early April.
There are 12 on field refs, 7 touch judges and 4 TMO places up for grabs.
As well as the 2 refs who miss out from the Six Nations (Carley and Gauzere?), the other 5 touch judges should surely include Andrew Brace of Ireland and Federico Anselmi of Argentina.
 So which other 3? If they are looking to make it truly international then Marius Mitrea of Italy and Kubo Of Japan should go. The final one could be a surprise - maybe Karl Dickson or Ruiz of France?