Joubert, Kaplan appointed to Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series
SANZAR has confirmed the four referees who will control matches in the Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series over the next three weekends, with South Africa’s Jonathan Kaplan and Craig Joubert each handed a semi-final.
The SANZAR Referee Selection Team has appointed Kaplan, Joubert, Bryce Lawrence and Chris Pollock (both from New Zealand) to control the five games in the Finals Series.
Lawrence and Pollock will referee the two Qualifiers this weekend – Pollock refereeing the clash between the Blues and the Waratahs in Auckland on Friday and Lawrence taking charge of the match between the Crusaders and The Sharks in Nelson on Saturday.
Kaplan and Joubert will be in charge of the semi-finals next weekend, with Kaplan set to referee the Reds’ home tie in Brisbane and Joubert due to take the whistle for the DHL Stormers semi-final in Cape Town.
It has also been confirmed that Lawrence will referee the Vodacom Super Rugby Final after the selectors determined that he had been the best performing referee throughout the competition.
SANZAR Game Manager, Lyndon Bray, said he was satisfied that the processes applied in 2011 had culminated in these four referees being selected for the Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series.
“After completing our ratings of the 16-strong SANZAR referees squad we canvassed the 15 team coaches for their inputs,” said Bray.
“It was really pleasing that our selections were confirmed by the feedback received from the coaches. We took into consideration the form of each referee throughout the 21 weeks of competition, and then considered the best ‘fit’ for the Finals Series. We have decided to use those considered as our four best, determining that the referee who controls the Final should also referee a Qualifier to prevent him from having three successive weeks on the sidelines.”
As part of SANZAR’s detailed review and evaluation process, all team coaches were invited to rate their ‘top 5’ referees in the competition. These results were collated and taken into consideration when the Finals Series appointments were made.
“You like to think that by the time you get to the Finals, the decisions largely take care of themselves,” said Bray.
“The very comprehensive review process we follow each week, helps us to make our decisions logically and with a real confidence. However, there are always going to be referees who can consider themselves unlucky when it comes to selection.
“In terms of the four selected, I am delighted for each of them, as they have all worked incredibly hard to deliver the best possible outcomes for the teams and the game in this competition,” Bray said.
Super Rugby Semi-final Appointments
Saturday 2 July, Reds vs TBC in Brisbane, 19h40 (11h40 SA time)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SA)
AR 1: Stuart Dickinson (Aus)
AR 2: James Leckie (Aus)
TMO: George Ayoub (Aus)
Saturday 2 July, DHL Stormers vs TBC in Cape Town, 17h05 (SA time)
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
AR 1: Marius Jonker (SA)
AR 2: Stefan Breytenbach (SA)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SA)
by SARU
