It turns out that the best referee in world rugby is friends with Anthony Taylor. Among the many things the recently retired Wayne Barnes must feel for Taylor will surely be a sense of pity.
Barnes — who recently refereed the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand at the Stade de France — was once criticised heavily on social media by Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. It is a famous incident because it’s rare in the sport. Erasmus was banned for two games. Previously he had served 12 months for criticism of another official.