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Referees confirmed for World Cup semi-finals

New Zealand referee Ben O'Keeffe (L) delivers a yellow card to South Africa's lock Eben Etzebeth (R) as South Africa's flanker and captain Siya Kolisi (C) looks on during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 15, 2023. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Referees Angus Gardner and Ben O’Keeffe are set to referee the World Cup semi-finals this weekend as the All Blacks face Argentina and the reigning champions South Africa play England.

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The Australian Gardner will be taking charge of his first World Cup knockout match on Friday at the Stade de France between the All Blacks and Los Pumas and will be joined by compatriot Nic Berry and England’s Karl Dickson as his assistants, and Wales’ Ben Whitehouse as the television match official.

New Zealand’s O’Keeffe will take charge of the second semi-final the following day in Paris a week after officiating South Africa’s quarter-final victory over hosts France. He will be joined by Ireland’s Andrew Brace and New Zealand’s Paul Williams as his assistants, while fellow Kiwi Brendon Pickerill will be the TMO.

Video Spacer

WATCH as French captain Antoine Dupont spits the dummy about some of referee Ben O’Keeffe’s decision in their one-point loss to South Africa

Video Spacer

WATCH as French captain Antoine Dupont spits the dummy about some of referee Ben O’Keeffe’s decision in their one-point loss to South Africa

It will be the second time that O’Keeffe has officiated a match between the Springboks and England but the fifth time Gardner has taken charge of a fixture between the All Blacks and Argentina, most famously being the man with the whistle when the Pumas won in 2020.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: ā€œI would like to congratulate Angus and Ben, the assistant referees and TMOs on their selection for the semi-finals.

ā€œThe match official group as a whole have played a full and positive role in an exceptional Rugby World Cup, including a compelling set of quarter-finals.ā€

World Rugby High Performance 15s Match Officials Manager JoĆ«l Jutge added: ā€œCongratulations to all selected. This is a team effort, and the selection reflects the hard work of the group as a whole, and the encouragement and support they give each other.

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ā€œI would also like to pay tribute to Jaco Peyper, who has been ruled out through injury. He would have been in contention. We wish him a speedy recovery.ā€

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Comments

128 Comments
N
NE 645 days ago

Good girl, through my hoops as per usual. Well done. Now try harder, jump higher. So easy to own you.

C
Cam 645 days ago

šŸ›Ž

Running out of crayons to chew on?

N
NE 645 days ago

And there she jumps through my hoops again. Good girl. Now higher, try harder.

C
Cam 645 days ago

Diggy mucker.

If I throw you a stick, would you leave? Or do you still need attention šŸ¤”

N
NE 646 days ago

Higher, little girl, jump higher. Try harder. Starting the day off owning you is becoming boring.

C
Cam 646 days ago

šŸ›ŽšŸ¤£

There he/him is. Like a wind-up, clockwork ballbag. Dependable.

#stillbiting

#stillbleating

#stillspecial


Looking forward to your reading your bites tomorrow Diggy.

N
NE 646 days ago

Good girl. Well done. Owning you and reducing you to your usual pathetic, childish bleats still makes me smile. Carry on little girl only jump higher and try harder.

C
Cam 646 days ago

Diggy mucker.


Joe Marler's bants. Nigel Farage wearing a milkshake. Nic Cummins interviews. Boris Johnson memes. Those are funny and sometimes clever. Your banter, like Woke comedy/Clive Woodward/and daytime tv, is stale, predictable and boring af. Be more like Nigel Farage wearing a milkshake and less

like an unimaginative woke comedian with a broken mangina.


Cue: little girl, bleats, owned you, harder/higher, ad nauseum.

N
NE 647 days ago

And up and through my hoops she goes. Good girl. Now try harder, jump higher. Enjoy another day of being owned, loser.

C
Cam 647 days ago

šŸ›Ž

Stimulus and response Diggy

Barks on command.

#welltrained

#stillbleats&bites

#stillcantbanter


Have a teat.šŸ¼

N
NE 647 days ago

Aah sweet. Still desperately begging for my approval l see, little one. Perhaps if you didn’t make it so easy for me to own you I might give you a pat on the head instead. Try harder now, little girl.

N
NE 647 days ago

Lame. Harder little girl, try harder.

C
CuzzyG 647 days ago

Haven’t seen a conversion kick being charged down in years. I thought the attacker couldn’t start running until the kicker started his run for the kick.

I thought that was a poor referee decision France v STH Africa .

P
Pierre 646 days ago

He was 100% correct have a relook the kicker moved forward like a show pony he did not move fast and took his time. I don't think he saw Kolbi charging towards the ball because he was alone while the rest was under the post in a huddle.

D
Deon 646 days ago

Watch the video again. There is another video which surfaced taken from behind Cheslin. Nothing wrong with what he has done. Completely legal. He started running the moment Ramos’ moved his foot. Weird how you didn't see that. Now stop with this BS. Go and watch all the videos. What he has done was 100% within the rules of the game. The BOKS were better than the French in the end.

F
Frank 647 days ago

The Referee should have gone to the TV referee on that decision.

F
Frank 647 days ago

I agree with you CuzzyG. The decision of the win should be reversed. Bad Sportsmanship!!! A conversion is for the try-scorers Umf.

d
dk 647 days ago

You’d have to say SA are heavy favourites. Them losing to England would be as unlikely as the South African cricket team losing to the Netherlands. šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

R
RB 644 days ago

And always have been

P
Pierre 646 days ago

Never dismiss England this is finals rugby not round robin

C
CuzzyG 647 days ago

Yeah 😁🤣 Be like using sandpaper on a cricket ball, Just doesn’t happen šŸ˜šŸ˜„šŸ˜‚

W
Willie 647 days ago

Given the standard of some comments, a little moderating by Rugbypass is overdue.

d
dk 647 days ago

Let’s hope Ben checks the South Africans’ sprigs before kick off.

p
patrick 647 days ago

The only fair way forward for rugby is nfl type refereeing it may make the game longer but at least the refs wont be deciding who wins

L
LL 646 days ago

Nfl? That’s a joke. They are the worst refs in any sport. NFLis so slow now I can’t watch any longer.

J
JD Kiwi 647 days ago

We need the game to be sped up, not stopped even more often!

G
Gareth 647 days ago

How does that work exactly? Genuine question.

P
PaPaRumple 647 days ago

Hey is fokken mal.

C
Cam 647 days ago

Diggy mucker.

#stillbleating

#stillbiting

#stillcantbanter


Doos much?

P
PaPaRumple 647 days ago

Okay I've had enough now. I'm gonna have dinner and spend time with my loving family. You keep living your lonely existence. Bye bye

N
NE 647 days ago

Harder, higher, little girl. You know you can.

N
NT 647 days ago

Nigel please dissapear. Your stupid comments are getting very tiring. Even if england play all 23 players at the same time with Barnes as referee they still will lost heavely.

J
Jmann 647 days ago

Excellent news for players, spectators and the game itself. Let’s have fast games focussed on attack, correct rucking and a clamp down on time-wasting. Barnes obviously being targeted for the final now (should England not progress).

B
Bob Marler 647 days ago

What rugby loving New Zealander doesn’t want to see the ABs and SA in the final?


Let’s be honest.

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