New Zealand Herald sports writer Paul Lewis believes northern hemisphere referees are more likely to let the Springboks get away with “delaying tactics” during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The All Blacks have been pushing the narrative that South African teams – including the Boks – look to slow matches down in an attempt to negate New Zealand’s high-tempo approach.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus rejected that suggestion on Monday.
“Over the five games that we’ve played [this year], we’ve not had one feedback that we slowed down the game,” Erasmus said. “Maybe [the All Blacks] have played against teams in pre-season mode. It’s like playing those Super Rugby warm-ups in January.”
ALSO: Peyper shuts down ‘slow down’ talk
Writing for the New Zealand Herald, Lewis highlighted the influence the match officials could have on the four-Test series, with England’s Matthew Carley set to referee the opener at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Lewis contrasted Carley with Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli, who controlled the All Blacks’ match at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.
“Amashukeli reffed the 50-19 win over the Bulls and, though the Georgian can be eccentric, he largely let the game flow – a style important for the All Blacks’ chances in this hugely significant match,” Lewis wrote.
He was particularly impressed when Amashukeli rejected an intervention from the TMO over a Bulls try and stuck with his on-field decision.
“In contrast, Carley and his English colleague Karl Dickson have the prim and punctilious air of council inspectors,” Lewis wrote.
“Northern hemisphere refs are also more lenient over breaks in play and some of the delaying tactics the Boks will undoubtedly pull in this series as they try to knock the All Blacks’ fast-paced game out of rhythm.
“It’s part of the game up there. You know – the committee meeting before every lineout, injury breaks which may or may not be injuries and so on.”
RASSIE: Media used to get message to refs
After Carley handles the Ellis Park opener, Amashukeli will referee the second Test, Australia’s Angus Gardner the third and Dickson the fourth.
Rassie: ‘We have 11 languages to make sure everyone understands the lineout call.’
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— Simon Borchardt (@SimonBorchardt) August 17, 2026
Photo: Dan Istitene/Getty Images
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New Zealand Herald sports writer Paul Lewis believes northern hemisphere referees are more likely to let the Springboks get away with “delaying tactics” during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The post Kiwis wary of rugby’s ‘council inspectors’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
