Kaplan for Newlands Test

Jonathan Kaplan of South Africa has been appointed to referee the Test at Newlands between South Africa and Namibia on 15 August.

Chances now for referees to referee their own country are minimal. Told about his appointment, Kaplan said: “I am very grateful that I have been allowed to referee this match and I am privileged indeed.

“I know it is an opportunity which will never come my way again. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

Asked some time ago if he would have liked the modern referee’s opportunity to referee Tests abroad, Max Baise said: “Yes, but our greatest honour was to referee a Test with the Springboks.”

Kaplan, who has refereed more Tests than any other South African referee, is the first South African to referee a Test involving the Springboks since Fransie Muller in Bloemfontein in 1982 when the Jaguars beat South Africa 21-12 and Hugo Porta scored all the Jaguars’ points and did so in all possible ways , scoring a try, a conversion, four penalty goals and a dropped goal. The result was a huge upset after South Africa had won the first Test in the series 50-18 in Pretoria. (Steve Strydom refereed that one.)

Told what Baise had said, Muller, who did get to referee Five Nations matches at a time when such appointments were rare for South Africans, said: “I agree with him. It is a wonderful honour. But in a way the match was sad because South Africa lost. I didn’t enjoy that part of it.

“But the next morning early – my wife and I were still asleep – the phone went. The Argentinians were leaving and wanted to see me to present me with the captain’s jersey from the Test.

“I have been to Argentina twice as an assessor and each time Hugo Porta has taken me out.

“I am very glad for Jonathan. It is a wonderful honour to referee for South Africa. I wish him well.”

The touch judges for the match are Craig Joubert and Mark Lawrence with Shaun Veldsman as the television match official.