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Poite has Boks in his sights

There are four referees from France, two from New Zealand and one each from England, Ireland, Wales, Australia and South Africa.

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The four French referees are Jérôme Garcès, Romain Poite, Mathieu Raynal and Pascal Guazere. The New Zealand referees are Glen Jackson and Ben O’Keeffe, who will be refereeing his first Rugby Championship match. The others are Wayne Barnes, Johnny Lacey, Nigel Owens, Angus Gardner and Jaco Peyper.

The championship kicks off on 19 August with Australia hosting New Zealand and ends on 7 October when Argentina host Australia. After that Australia and New Zealand meet in a Bledisloe Cup match.

Poite, at the centre of the controversial draw between New Zealand and the British & Irish Lions at the weekend, will take charge of the Round One encounter between South Africa and Argentina.

South Africa and Poite have a very unhappy history, as a result of some serious blunders by the Frenchman.

New Zealand will be equally nervous as they have another Frenchman, Jérôme Garcès, as the referee for their tournament opener against Australia.

World Rugby match officials selection committee Chairman Anthony Buchanan said: "We're working hard with Rugby World Cup 2019 in mind and The Rugby Championship gives us a further opportunity to review match officials under the pressure and intensity of Test matches.

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"Along with officials that performed to the highest level during the Lions series and the June internationals, we now have new faces coming into the panel. Our ultimate goal is to arrive in Japan in 2019 with an established group of top-class, in-form officials with the necessary experience to perform at the highest level.

"Our focus continues to be clear and consistent decision-making and the highest standards of physical conditioning.

"The selection system allows for movement in and out of the panel based on form and rewards the top performers and young referees who have graduated through the performance pathway. Every performance is closely scrutinised and reviewed to ensure accountability. In addition, there is regular consultation with coaches with their feedback helping to inform selection decisions.” 

2017 Rugby Championship AppointmentsPoite has Boks in his sights

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19 August 2017

Australia vs New Zealand at ANZ Stadium Sydney 

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) 

Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Andy Brace (Ireland) 

Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)

South Africa vs Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Nic Berry (Australia)

Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

26 August 2017

New Zealand vs Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)

Argentina vs South Africa at Estadio Padre Ernesto Marlearena, Salta

Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

/Romain Poite (France), Nic Berry (Australia)

Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

9 September 2017

New Zealand vs Argentina at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Matthew Carley (England)

Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Australia vs South Africa at nib Stadium, Perth

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

16 September 2017

Australia vs Argentina at GIO Stadium, Canberra

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

New Zealand vs South Africa at QBE Stadium, Albany

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Matthew Carley (England)

Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

30 September 2017

South Africa vs Australia at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)

Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)

Argentina vs New Zealand at Estadio Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

7 October 2017

South Africa vs New Zealand at Newlands

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)

Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)

Argentina vs Australia at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Bledisloe Cup Match

21 October 2017

Australia vs New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Egon Seconds (South Africa)

Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

 

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