Former Test referee Dave Bishop has criticised Australian Stuart Dickinson for his pedantic display in Saturday's ugly England-All Blacks rugby test in Wellington.

Dickinson blew the pea out of the whistle for 33 penalties and while current and former referees ducked for cover, Te Anau-based Bishop came out blowing.

"I felt it was a disappointing performance and I wondered if he was refereeing according to what he thought he saw, as opposed to what he did see," Bishop said.

"I fully understand the difficulties at that level but to some degree it is all about attitude.

"At the end of the day a game of rugby is like reading a book -- you open it at chapter one and whatever comes up you adjust accordingly and continue on."

Bishop believes Dickinson's performance reinforced the view that the leading referees are focusing on law application in a bid to impress their assessors ahead of the World Cup.

There are 26 officials chasing World Cup appointments, of which 16 will earn refereeing jobs and eight will be touch judges. Two will miss out.

"There was no doubt he was focusing on law application and it would be true to say they are all feeling a little bit of pressure -- all wanting spots."

Frenchman Michel Lamoulie was the International Rugby Board referee assessor at Westpac Stadium while the captains and coaches of both teams will also forward reports.

New Zealand Rugby Union media manager Joe Locke shielded referees' boss Keith Lawrence from the media today, believing any comments he made could be misconstrued as criticism.

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