Kaplan awarded the S14 Final
McKenzie's complaints make no difference
An all-South African match official team will officiate in the Super 14 Final between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes at Jade Stadium, Christchurch, on Saturday.
Jonathan Kaplan will referee the match, with Craig Joubert (reserve referee) and Tappe Henning as the touch judges.
The Television Match Official for the match is Jerome Fortuin.
Kaplan's appointment as referee for the final is testimony to his high standing as a match official around the world, and comes despite the complaints of Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie before, and after, his team's 16-14 semi-final loss to the Hurricanes at the weekend.
Kaplan has indicated that he will respond officially to the concerns of McKenzie.
An angry McKenzie was critical of Kaplan's handling of the Waratahs' loss in Wellington at the weekend – the Tahs' 14th loss from 15 games refereed by Kaplan.
According to reports in the media, McKenzie plans to submit a lengthy report on the game.
The major grievance was a penalty decision against the Waratahs scrum that handed the Hurricanes the chance to kick a match-winning penalty, but the coach said he was also concerned over a number of issues.
Kaplan, who prior to the game revealed he was aware of the lopsided statistics of his association with NSW, confirmed he was responding directly to the concerns McKenzie has raised.
"I have been asked to put my points in writing through the correct channels," Kaplan told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"There are obviously some extra concerns that have been tabled that I think it would be prudent to respond to, so I'll be doing that. I want to do the right thing in the right way despite the pressure that is on."
SANZAR officials clearly rate Kaplan much higher than McKenzie does, and he will be in charge of the inaugural Super 14 Final.
The match between the five-time Super 12 champions, the Crusaders, and the Hurricanes – in their first Super Rugby Final – kicks off at 19.35 New Zealand time (07.35 GMT) on Saturday, 27 May.
