Boks pressure referee ahead of All Blacks clash

The Springboks have applied early pressure to French referee Jerome Garces demanding a fair deal in their Rugby World Cup opener.

Rugby’s greatest rivalry resumes with the feature match of the opening weekend of pool play in Japan on Saturday (9.45am NZT).

The Boks claim ‘‘things are a lot more balanced’’ between the two super powers on the back of three intriguing tussles over the past two years and they want that reflected in officiating.

‘‘Hopefully the match officials will respect the game because if you look at the way things are between us and New Zealand, I think we’re more balanced now,’’ Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said.

‘‘If you look at the previous history when you look at the All Blacks, they’ve been dominating. When they go to the World Cup, sometimes they become favourites. We are at an equal level at the moment.

‘‘Hopefully the match officials will also respect this game. Things are a lot more balanced between us and New Zealand right now.’’

The All Blacks might be thinking the same of Garces, they have history with him.

Garces controlled the tense semifinal between the All Blacks and Springboks at the last World Cup, yellow carding Jerome Kaino. He was also the referee that red carded Sonny Bill Williams during the absorbing 2017 home series against the British & Irish Lions.

With a narrow win, a narrow loss and a draw against defending champions New Zealand, the Springboks are right in the title talk in Japan.

Stick believes the tournament is open and felt that any team from Ireland, New Zealand, England, South Africa and Wales would fancy their chances.

‘‘If you look at the top five teams at the moment, each one of them has a good chance to win this World Cup,’’ he said.

‘‘Hopefully the officials will treat every team equally, and respect the games and the fans.’’