Error linesman axed for Tri-Nations tie

LINESMAN Cobus Wessels has been axed for this weekend's New Zealand-Australia clash because of a bad call that led to Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell being sent off in the first Bledisloe Cup match last week.

The South African ran the line in the All Blacks' 49-28 win over the Wallabies in Melbourne but was stood down yesterday by the International Rugby Board (IRB) for Saturday's Tri-Nations match in Christchurch.

It was on Wessels' recommendation that Mitchell, who was to be sent off in the second half, was misguidedly yellow-carded for a late tackle on New Zealand flanker Richie McCaw in the first period.

"Assistant referees, we encourage them to intervene in the game but they've got to get it right," said IRB referees chief Paddy O'Brien.