Nasaf Football Club Determines Opponents in AFC Champions League 2 for the 2026/27 Season

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Jaco Pepwer, legal advisor to the Springboks, stated the team's complete trust in the officials who will officiate the matches in this greatest rugby rivalry.

The Greatest Rivalry in Rugby

The Springboks express full confidence in the referees appointed to conduct the four test matches within this major confrontation against New Zealand. The first three matches of the series will take place in South Africa: August 22 at Ellis Park stadium, August 29 at DHL Stadium, and September 5 at FNB Stadium in Soweto. The fourth and final match is scheduled for September 12 in Baltimore, and it will be refereed by Karl Dixon from England.

These appointments come amid discussions on new protocols for referees, which took place at the 'Shape of the Game' Conference earlier this year. Furthermore, World Rugby and trade unions are examining how referees interact with teams before major test games.

Pepwer believes they have the best referees and that the tour is under reliable control. When asked about the referees and whether staying in the same hotel as the All Blacks could affect the series, Jaco Pepwer, Springboks legal advisor, replied that they fully trust the professionals officiating the games, and they should behave as professionals.

He added that despite wins and losses, the referees were chosen based on their experience and performance over the last twelve months. According to him, they possess extremely strong character and will not be intimidated. They get annoyed when teams try to dictate how they should referee, as they have earned the right to be there and know the game well.

Pepwer noted that Matthieu, one of the referees, is a firm referee who decisively handles stoppages and is very resilient to negativity or cynicism, and that he is not swayed by the home crowd.

Moreover, Pepwer explained that the protocols for referee interaction with teams were not widely discussed at the 'Shape of the Game' Conference with World Rugby. However, he does not feel the need to raise this issue in the media. Nevertheless, Pepwer admitted that from a personal standpoint, having referee experience, he would prefer to have personal meetings with coaches and captains before a major test match to understand what each team plans to demonstrate.

He continued that his desire is a personal opinion, not criticism, and that other referees may have different views. He emphasized that the purpose of such meetings is not influence, but understanding upcoming events. For example, if Rasisi intends to execute a midfield maul, and the referee does not know about it, how can he prepare and make a decision at a crucial moment?

Pepwer concluded that they are working on this issue behind the scenes and will likely review it after this series, possibly making some adjustments by the end of the year, although this is not yet decided. He assured that they clearly understand the current rules and will adhere to them.