Knowing two of the English IRB boys as I do and having spoken to previous RWC refs like Ed Morrison and Welshman Les Peard, there will be a meeting of officials prior to the bog kick-off during which "policy" will be discussed and agreed across the board.

This is designed to produce a uniform RWC standard, neither Northern or Southern Hemisphere orientated. Straying from the agreed "policy" will mean a referee won't get to do the bigger games later in the tournament. 
I don’t agree with some critics who think the refs talk too much; the players want it, just ask them. They want to know what the guy with the whistle is thinking, what he will or won’t allow. Watch how Tony Spreadbury deals with the wind-ups from Georgie Gregan et al. At heated moments in a game, Peard would say: “Scrum down, my ball”. Everybody stopped in their tracks checking to see if they heard what they thought they heard.

Communication is the key and the team that listens and reacts the best will benefit. A team spending too much time playing the referee often forget there are opponents on the park as well and before they know it, it’s too late – game over.

'I don’t agree with some critics who think the refs talk too much; the players want it, just ask them'

The Aussies don’t have a front five – they know it, we know it, so they’ll disrupt it as much as the ref of the day will allow. Their lineout No.2 will step across and interfere with their opponents' No.2 when it’s not Oz ball, thereby cutting out an option for the thrower. Richie McCaw’s best cheats are away from the breakdowns. All good No.7s get in and fight for the ball on the ground, either to win it or slow it down. It’s just amazing how he manages to block the tackle channel when Dan Carter’s got the ball and that’s why he’s respected everywhere amongst his fellow pros – he gets away with it.

These sort of things are highlighted to the IRB refs via coach/assessor meetings and multiple runs and re-runs of previous match DVDs. But in the heat of battle, regardless of the experience of the ref, things will get missed.

None of the IRB panel will want to make a decision that affects the result. That’s for the players to do. But the whistlers must have the balls to make the crunch calls regardless of who it’s against and whether or not it’s controversial or could mean catching the early plane home.