Rugby Union

Interesting selections for the match officials for the quarters.

Fra v SA has an all NZ quartet https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/quarter-final-4-winner-pool-a-runner-up-pool-b#match_details

Ire v NZ has an all English quartet https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/quarter-final-2-winner-pool-b-runner-up-pool-a#match_details

But the two lower ranked quarters (in terms of sides of the draw, and rankings coming into the tournament) both have mixed appointments.

Jaco Peyper heads up Wales v Arg https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/quarter-final-1-winner-pool-c-runner-up-pool-d#match_details

And Mathieu Raynal has Eng v Fiji https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/quarter-final-3-winner-pool-d-runner-up-pool-c#match_details

Its an interesting move, you could see the all English all NZ teams as looking to get a consistent view from the team, which sorta sounds like a good idea. Though depending on results either could be used exactly the same in the next matches, or be impossible depending on which teams go through.

The good news is there's no experimenting with giving the whistle to inexperienced ref's, probably the one the NH has seen the least is Ben O'Keefe, but he's taken the whistle in a bunch of finals footy down here and has a pretty good temperament for it.

He's also been pretty adaptable at refereeing to they style requested by the organisers too, say where Super Rugby is really clear on jackals supporting body weight and entry to rucks, but international rugby giving much more lee way - he seems to get the balance on point for whatever series he's in.