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Three Europeans lead the way as World Rugby picks its four quarter-final referees
By Online Editors
World Rugby has announced the match officials for the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup following a full review of performances over the 37 pool matches.
Jérôme Garcès (France), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Wayne Barnes (England) will take charge of the four matches in Tokyo and Oita over the weekend of October 19-20.
In a selection that reflects the officiating team’s blend of experience and younger talent, Garcès will take charge of his second Rugby World Cup quarter-final as England face Australia in Oita on Saturday (16:15 JST) and Owens will take charge of world champions New Zealand versus Ireland at Tokyo Stadium on the same day (19:15 JST).
Sunday’s matches will see Peyper take charge of his 50th Test (and his first quarter-final) with Wales versus France in Oita (16:15 JST), while Barnes will round-off the weekend’s action by refereeing hosts Japan against South Africa at Tokyo Stadium (19:15 JST).
The four referees have 285 Test appearances between them as referees. The selection has been made following a full review of the 37 pool matches at Asia’s first Rugby World Cup. The selection was made on merit by World Rugby’s match officials selection committee.
(Continue reading below...)
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Every team takes time to settle at a major event and I am delighted with how this group of exceptional match officials have responded across the pool stage. They are the best of the best and have played their full part in what will be remembered as an incredible pool stage.
“I would like to congratulate Jérôme, Nigel, Jaco and Wayne, the assistant referees and TMOs and we now look forward to four compelling matches on the road to determining who will lift the Webb Ellis Cup on 2 November.”
World Rugby high performance 15s match official manager Alain Rolland added: “As a team, the match officials have worked hard to achieve consistency and clarity of decision-making during an exciting pool stage.
“While it is the referees who will get the recognition for the quarter-final appointments, this is a team game. We have an excellent team of referees, assistant referees and TMOs with a strong culture of working together to elevate performances. As we are looking ahead to the knockout stage, everyone remains in the reckoning for semis and finals selection.”
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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