Rugby Australia has acknowledged the pressure faced by its referees at the World Cup and flown in specific coaches to ensure their whistleblowers maintain high standards.

On the back of World Rugby’s own apology for the early standard of officiating at the tournament, RA chief executive Raelene Castle confirmed Mitch Chapman and Scott Young had been providing specific coaching for the two Australian referees.

Chapman, the head coach of national match officials, arrived last week and Young, the national referee manager, was on the ground from week two of the tournament. The pair will work closely with Angus Gardner and Nic Berry.

Castle is conscious of the scrutiny the match officials are under at the global tournament.

“World Rugby don’t have any referee coaches here, at the tournament. So Rugby Australia has paid to bring our referee coaches from Australia up, to support our rugby referees,” she said on Wednesday.

“That’s the support they get during Super Rugby and (Rugby Championship), so we think that should remain in place for the world’s biggest rugby tournament.”

Gardner copped severe criticism from Argentina coach Mario Ledesma in the wake of the Pumas’ narrow loss to France on Saturday.

Ledesma later apologised before World Rugby raised eyebrows on Tuesday when bagging its own officials in a statement, saying they had fallen short of the standard expected.

RA is believed to spend about $1 million annually on referee training.

That figure is reportedly close to the total that World Rugby itself spends and Castle said the international governing body had recognised the need to address the issue.

“There is a review in place by World Rugby and a recognition that more money needs to be spent, and a more aligned program across the world for refereeing.

“That’s a piece of work that is in train at the moment and Rugby Australia is very supportive of that.”