As the teams battle it out for finals spots, the Super Rugby referees will also be keen to impress in the last round with quarter-final selections on their minds. The travel budget isn’t being used up this weekend, as in week 19, the appointments in final regular round of the season keep referees pretty local. The weekend kicks-off with a big Kiwi derby between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton. New Zealander, Mike Fraser has the whistle in a match that will decide who hosts a quarter-final as best wild card after the three Conference winners.
On Saturday, fellow Kiwi, Glen Jackson will be in charge as the Highlanders host the Rebels who must win to secure a finals berth without needing results to go their way. Angus Gardner will referee the Australian derby between the Waratahs and Brumbies in Sydney where a win for the Canberra-based team could see them sneak into the finals if other results go their way.
In South Africa, Marius van der Westhuizen takes charge of the Lions versus Bulls match where the home side will be hoping to wrap up top spot in the South African Conference. If they fall to the Bulls it could open the gate for the Jaguares who could leapfrog the Lions into top spot if they beat the Sharks in Durban. The Sharks will be out for victory as they could also sneak into the finals if other results go their way. The match is being refereed by Rasta Rasivhenge. The only ‘traveller’ this weekend is Boli Anselmi (pictured), who travels from his Argentina base to referee the Crusaders match in Christchurch. Safe travels to him!
In Germany, the final play off game for a Pool A RWC spot is down to a second leg as they play Samoa. Matthew Carley will the referee in an all-RFU team of three. Samoa lead 66-15 after the first leg.
RWC Qualifier
Germany (15) v Samoa (66)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England), Ian Tempest (England)
Super Rugby week 19
Chiefs v Hurricanes
Referee: Mike Fraser
ARs: Richard Kelly & James Doleman
TMO: Ben Skeen
Reds v Sunwolves
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Damon Murphy & Jordan Way
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore
Highlanders v Rebels
Referee: Glen Jackson
ARs: Paul Williams & Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Chris Hart
Crusaders v Blues
Referee: Federico Anselmi
ARs: Jamie Nutbrown & Mike Fraser
TMO: Shane McDermott
Waratahs v Brumbies
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Will Houston & James Leckie
TMO: George Ayoub
Lions v Bulls
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
ARs: AJ Jacobs & Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Christie du Preez
Sharks v Jaguares
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
ARs: Egon Seconds & Archie Sehlako
TMO: Willie Vos
Bye: Stormers
