Knock-out refs: How they're chosen
The referees for the quarterfinals have been appointed – just four matches and so four referees. Then it will dwindle down to two matches for the semifinals and then just one match… How, though are these knock-out refs appointed?
Ten referees went to New Zealand – ten top referees all with the ability, determination and desire to do well.
They have all been retained for the knock-out matches. It seems clear that not all of them will referee a knock-out match.
The referees for the quarterfinals:
Ireland vs Wales in Wellington
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
England vs France in Auckland
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
South Africa vs Australia in Wellington
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
New Zealand vs Argentina in Auckland
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Next there will be the semifinal appointments.
Who appoints?
The International Rugby Board has its own group of referee selectors: David Pickering, Chairman (Wales), Tappe Henning (South Africa), Kevin Bowring (England), Bob Francis (New Zealand), Stephen Hilditch (Ireland) and (France). The IRB Referee Manager is Paddy O’Brien. Of those selectors Tappe Henning, Bob Francis, Stephen Hilditch and Paddy O’Brien are former Test referees.
They will see the matches and be given reports upon each of the four matches by their assessors (Bob Francis, Michel Lamoulie, Tappe Henning and Stephen Hilditch). They will also receive reports from each of the eight coaches.
Unattached principle:
As has been the case throughout the World cup the principle of appointing unattached referees will applies and will apply for the semifinals.
That means that in a match involving New Zealand, Bryce Lawrence will not be appointed. In a match involving South Africa, neither Craig Joubert nor Jonathan Kaplan will be appointed, and so on.
Otherwise merit will be the sole consideration.
Speculation:
The speculation which follows is entirely the thoughts of one man a long, long way from New Zealand without any contact with anybody on the inside.
The guess for the two referees for the semifinals would be – and it’s only an educated guess – Alain Rolland of Ireland and Jonathan Kaplan of South Africa for whom this Saturday would have been Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism and not a day to be running around the rugby field.
That leaves the final and it seems that the referee for the final will be chosen from those who refereed the quarterfinals and the semifinals. By our speculation, that would mean choosing from Craig Joubert, Steve Walsh, Bryce Lawrence, Nigel Owens, Jonathan Kaplan and Alain Rolland.
The appointment for the final depends on who is playing.
If Ireland play, Rolland, who refereed the 2007 RWC Final, would be out. If Wales play, Nigel Owens would be out. If New Zealand play, Bryce Lawrence will be out and possibly also Steve Walsh you may have an Australian tag but really is a New Zealander. If South Africa play, Craig Joubert and Jonathan Kaplan would be out.
There may just be a conflict inside the minds and hearts of referees – country versus personal ambitions, love you country to win vs love to referee the Rugby World Cup Final.
Who would you bet on for the RWC Final?
