The Daily Telegraph

THE REFEREE

- By Jonathan Kaplan, the most-capped referee of all-time

Jaco Peyper is undoubtedl­y one of the top referees in the southern hemisphere. He has improved his ability to read a game and provide a balanced platform for players to approach performanc­e with confidence.

He is fit and communicat­es in a sharp manner, occasional­ly lending an ear to captains and their ‘queries’. In addition to his Tests, he has refereed a superb Super Rugby final and a couple of Currie Cup finals, so he should be able to handle the pressure of the occasion. He had an average first outing at the Rugby World Cup, as well as some poor calls in the recent Ireland v All Blacks Test. He sometimes tries too hard for the players and will need a calm head, especially in the first 20 minutes.

The first Test always carries extra responsibi­lity as the right platform needs to be set for the series. The All Blacks may know him slightly better but he has refereed most of the teams up north, too, and they will have access to him prior to the game to iron out any perception­s.

 ??  ?? Jaco Peyper Nationalit­y S Africa Age 37
Jaco Peyper Nationalit­y S Africa Age 37

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