Are they any better than the top rated refs of 20 years ago?
In my day we were just glad to a have a referee appointed for our games!
I don't know if they're better, that's pretty subjective, especially based on what the refs were asked to focus on at any given time.
However, I'd say they're definitely fitter these days.
If you watch that horrific game against Gloucester when LRZ ran the full length of the pitch to score against us, the ref started on Gloucester's 5m line when LRZ got the ball. When LRZ scored, the ref was on our 5m line.
This may be an exception, and there may have been exceptions in the past too, but I remember many a game in the past where the ref had given up the chase around the half way line