International Rugby Board referees manager Paddy O'Brien has apologised to Australian match official Stuart Dickinson for publicly criticising his performance in New Zealand's 20-6 victory over Italy.

O'Brien was quoted as saying that Dickinson, considered Australia's leading referee, had made the wrong decisions in scrums late in the game, awarding penalties to Italy when it should have been New Zealand.

He said the Australian had been told to watch a video of the game, would receive coaching on scrums and would have to lift his game or miss out on future games.

Rugby's world governing body issued a statement on Friday saying that O'Brien had apologised to Dickinson and the Australian Rugby Union for giving his appraisal of the referee's performance to the media.

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