Officials for SA v NZ in Bloemfontein

[TheRiddler]

I see that this weekend's match has an all Northern Hemisphere team of pitch officials :

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Tim Hayes (Wales)

Any idea why this is the case? Would have thought that the Aussies would have got a look in somewhere (wonder when Aussie Steve Walsh will be back on the international scene - he's got Norths v Uni instead this weekend).

Interestingly, the TMO is from Sth Africa (Johann Meuwesen) - should make for an interesting discussion if there are any close calls. How hard would it have been to give that gig to a neutral?

On a separate (but sort of related note) I notice that Glen Jackson, the retiring Saracens fly-half, has been recruited by the NZRB as a professional referee. Wonder which Aussies would consider crossing to the other side?

 

[Scarfman]

Alain Rolland is a complete and utter howling honking goose of the first order.

There, I've said it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Jerre its getting to the extreme lately, Aussies worrying over a All Blacks vs Springbokke test ref. Its pretty clear your lot isnt good enough to blow these test, send them over to get a bit of CC exposure. Tell ONeil thats what he should do.

 

[Scarfman]

Pretty clear what?

Give us your run down on the top half dozen refs, please. I need educating.

 

[Moses]

Pretty clear advantage to the Saffas, having just come out of a NH reffed lions series. Good really, we need the bokke to win their home games (no BP's though thanks very much)


There's a pretty good Aussie ref in the Shute Shield, I reckon he'd be awesome at a higher level.

Goes by the name of Steve Walsh, could have a grudge against the kiwi's though, which would be hillarious

 

[PaarlBok]

So why didnt they pick a Aussie ref then for this test? Have no idea who pick the refs and think they work from a ranking list like in the S14?

Myself for one will always prefer a SH ref for all our tests doesnt matter if he is from Aus, SA or NZ or Tonga or the South Pole.

 

[Thomond78]

Alain Rolland is a complete and utter howling honking goose of the first order.

There, I've said it.

He used be good.

But as an assessment of how he reffed that the last thirty minutes of that one I saw, no disagreement here. Did anyone actually get a confirmed sighting of an AB on his feet or onside at a ruck? Anyone...? :nta: