World Cup Referee Panel

Don't know Luke Pearce and Mathieu Raynal but the rest are all quality refs, including the Frogs Garces and Poite who are among the world's best.
You can call that panel "weird" if you like ou Maaik, I think it's world class. We should be grateful that so many competent referees have stuck with the thankless job in the face of all the ignorant and biased criticism they receive.
PS Rasta is a promising ref bit he's not in that league . Not yet anyway.

This is looking like a conspiracy. (but not a globalist one).
The fast pitches of Japan should favour Southern Hemisphere teams, but it is the first time that the Northern Hemisphere is arguably better than the Southern Hemisphere. 
A majority of northern referees should even the scales and to some degree take away the fastpitch advantage. They way their refs judge the breakdown allows anyone to enter the ruck from anywhere. This goes to show it will be non-negotiable to have fetchers on the field. (e.g. Vermeulen vs an Alberts twin)
Everyone hates French referees. They are so pedantic and seem to enjoy shouting at the players and power egos.Expect some dubious calls at the World Cup...
However all being said, the Boks are certainly not in the favourites list - so perhaps a surprise result may favour the under dogs Boks
Favourites should be 
1. All Blacks2. Wales3. Ireland4 .England
5. South Africa6. Argentina7. Scotland8. France