TRI NATIONS NEWS:LINESMAN COBUS Wessels has been axed for this weekend's New Zealand-Australia clash because of a bad call that ultimately 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’s recommendation that Mitchell, who was to be sent off in the second half, was yellow-carded for a late tackle on New Zealand flanker Richie McCaw in the first period.

“If anything, it’s lucky to be a penalty,” IRB referees chief Paddy O’Brien said. “McCaw offloads as he’s about to collide with Drew Mitchell, who puts his hands out and pushes him away. So there’s no way it’s a yellow card offence.

“As a result of that, with the second yellow, Australia went without a player for 30 minutes and that just shouldn’t have happened.”

New Zealander O’Brien said Wessels had also mistakenly called a lineout throw not straight.

“Assistant referees, we encourage them to intervene in the game but they’ve got to get it right,” he said. “There were two decisions made which we felt weren’t up to the standard required.

“Cobus has been very understanding, he admits that he got it wrong and we’re not going to hang him out to dry. He’s got to go away and think about that . . . and hopefully learn a lesson from it.”

New Zealander Keith Brown will run the line on Saturday in place of Wessels, who will act as the video referee.

The use of an official from the same country as the home team would not be a precedent for future Tests, an IRB news release said: “The appointment . . . is owing to the logistical and preparation pressures of selecting a neutral official for Saturday’s match.”

In other news, centre Conrad Smith and flanker Jerome Kaino are among six players who have pledged their future to the All Blacks until the end of 2012, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said yesterday.

Secondrow forwards Tom Donnelly, Sam Whitelock and Anthony Boric as well as prop Ben Franks were the other All Blacks to sign new deals with the NZRU that will keep them playing in New Zealand after next year’s hosting of the World Cup.

“We have now moved our focus beyond 2011 and the All Blacks and franchise coaches regard these players as very important members of their respective teams so it’s great that they have recommitted to New Zealand rugby,” NZRU chief Steve Tew said. “We feel that we have got a fantastic professional rugby environment in New Zealand and many of our players agree. Having said that, we still work very hard to ensure that continues.”

Barring Boric, the players are all in the All Blacks squad to face Australia in the Tri-Nations this weekend, where New Zealand could wrap up the title.

Hard-running, hard-hitting blindside flanker Kaino (27) will be playing his 31st Test in Christchurch at the weekend.

Smith, who will continue his centre partnership with Ma’a Nonu in his 39th Test on Saturday, said he was delighted to commit himself to continuing to playing all levels of rugby in New Zealand .

“New Zealand is home and I love playing rugby here,” the 28-year-old said. “I’m proud to play for Wellington, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks, and I’m looking forward to a few more years of professional rugby.”