Officials for First 6 rounds

Week 1

Friday, 15 February

Crusaders vs Brumbies at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)
Performance auditor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

Reds vs Highlanders in Brisbane (New Zealand)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Geoff Acton (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)

Sharks vs Western Force at Absa Stadium, Durban
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)

Saturday, 16 February

Blues vs Chiefs at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)

Waratahs vs Hurricanes in Sydney
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joey Salmans (South Africa), Grant MacNeill (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Gus Erickson (Australia)

Stormers vs Bulls at Newlands
Referee: Willie Roos (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Linston Manuels (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)
Performance auditor: Ian Scotney (Australia)

Cheetahs vs Lions Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: JC Fortuin (South Africa), François Veldsman (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)

Week 2

Friday, 22 February

Hurricanes vs Reds at WestPac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joey Salmans (South Africa), Brent Murray (New Zealand)
Television match official: Chris Rooney (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

Cheetahs vs Western Force in Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
Performance auditor: Ian Scotney (Australia)

Bulls vs Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Banks Yantolo (South Africa)

Saturday, 23 February

Chiefs vs Waratahs at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Highlanders in Canberra
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (South Africa), James Scholtens (Australia)
Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Assessor: Scott Young (Australia)

Sharks vs Stormers at Absa Stadium, Durban
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Willie Roos (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)

Lions vs Blues at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia), Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Banks Yantolo (South Africa)

Week 3

Friday, 29 February

Hurricanes vs Chiefs at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Chris Rooney (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)

Lions vs Western Force at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)

Stormers vs Crusaders at Newlands
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Brett Bowden (Australia), Pro Legoete (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)

Saturday, 1 March

Highlanders vs Waratahs at Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)
Performance auditor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Reds in Canberra
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: James Leckie (Australia), Daniel Cheever (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)

Cheetahs vs Blues Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Referee: Brett Bowden (Australia)
Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia), Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)
Assessor: Banks Yantolo (South Africa)
Performance auditor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)

Bulls vs Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Willie Roos (South Africa), Joey Salmans (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)

Week 4

Friday, 7 March

Highlanders vs Hurricanes at Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)

Waratahs vs Brumbies in Sydney
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia), Daniel Cheever (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)

Bulls vs Lions at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Banks Yantolo (South Africa)

Saturday, 8 March

Chiefs vs Cheetahs at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: Geoff Acton (Australia), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

Reds vs Stormers in Brisbane
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)

Assessor: Gus Erickson (Australia)

Sharks vs Blues at Absa Stadium, Durban
Referee: Brett Bowden (Australia)
Touch judges: Julian Pritchard (Australia), Joey Salmans (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)

Sunday, 9 March

Western Force vs Crusaders Perth
Referee: Willie Roos (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), James Scholtens (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) (ed - hope no close ones this time)
Assessor: Brendan McCormick (Australia)

Week 5

Friday, 14 March

Chiefs vs Stormers at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Nathan Pearce (Australia), Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Hurricanes in Canberra
Referee: Willie Roos (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Ian Smith (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Gus Erickson (Australia)
Performance auditor: Ian Scotney (Australia)

Saturday, 15 March

Blues vs Western Force North Harbour
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)

Crusaders vs Cheetahs at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: Brett Bowden (Australia), Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

Reds vs Bulls Brisbane (New Zealand)
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Stephen Hill (Australia)
Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)

Lions vs Sharks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joey Salmans (South Africa), François Veldsman (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)

Week 6 - Easter Weekend

Friday, 21 March

Crusaders vs Waratahs at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Cheetahs in Canberra
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand), Daniel Cheever (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Scott Young (Australia)

Saturday, 22 March

Highlanders vs Western Force in Queenstown
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Willie Roos (South Africa), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)

Blues vs Stormers at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: Brett Bowden (Australia), Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)

Chiefs vs Bulls in Rotorua
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: James Scholtens (Australia), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Paul Ramsay (New Zealand)

Lions vs Reds at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Banks Yantolo (South Africa)

So Kelvin Deaker & Chris Pollock are basically travelling with the boys to S Africa. They should all know each other pretty well after 3 weeks of that! Hopefully those two can be at least sympathetic to what :force: are trying to do (with patterns, line outs etc) during the games.

That doesn't look like too bad a draw, I didn't see any names I was hugely worried about on the field (apart from the fact that there were some South African refs. I guess we can't take ALL of the NZ refs.

And it seems no-one is interested in Marius Joubert.....good!

You will notice that we don't have Kaplan for the first 6 weeks, very happy about that. Also it's a harsh call on George Ayoub, the villian of 2006 was Geoff (I'm not going to call the win for the force because I didn't back them) Acton, who is prancing up and down the sideline in Hamilton 24hrs before we play the crusaders.

Correct oxley...but it was Ayoub who fell for the academy award in Canberra and gave the Brumbies the penalty and win :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelling_gerry

Correct oxley...but it was Ayoub who fell for the academy award in Canberra and gave the Brumbies the penalty and win :(

I was in Canberra that night and do remember the foul stench in the air after the game, or was that just the brumbies supporters:)

Nice to see no sign of Kaplan but i have no idea about Willie Roos who is in charge when we play Canterbury. Sussed out a few yapie sites and general opinion is Mr Roos is Kaplans love child! Hope they are wrong, as we need no ref who might become over excited at Subi with a huge crowd. General consensus over there is he is quite anal at the breakdown. Thats reassuring, wonder how he is going to handle the ELVs?

I'd rather have a Nazi at the breakdown anytime we're playing against McCaw!

Don't know about you.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by oxleymoron

I was in Canberra that night and do remember the foul stench in the air after the game, or was that just the brumbies supporters:)

Sure was......but it was the sadness after the game and the feral Brumbies supporters (AS and Evie excepted) that were fair sticking it to us that forced TheInnforcer to have to get up and dance to forsake him snotting one of the aforesaid feral Brumbies supporters.....now THAT was SAD.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Lone Hydrangea

Nice to see no sign of Kaplan but i have no idea about Willie Roos who is in charge when we play Canterbury. Sussed out a few yapie sites and general opinion is Mr Roos is Kaplans love child! Hope they are wrong, as we need no ref who might become over excited at Subi with a huge crowd. General consensus over there is he is quite anal at the breakdown. Thats reassuring, wonder how he is going to handle the ELVs?

Isn't Willie Roos the wiry looking black guy who kind of speaks funny (ish) when he talks. I kind of like him if it is, he isn't all that strict so the likes of McCaw would get away with a fair bit but he'll keep a flowing game I'd say.

Speaking of the first 6 rounds, the South African tour is looking mightily promising at the moment. Despite the Force's usual strong showing against SA teams, both the Lions and the Cheetahs have some long-term injuries to experienced key players. Add that to the few resources both teams already have and we have a good head start on the pair of them. Tack on the Sharks losing a lot of their old heads and potential teething problems of playing against a Force pack that is much more familiar with the new rules. I'd like a good four wins from our first 6.

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelling_gerry

Sure was......but it was the sadness after the game and the feral Brumbies supporters (AS and Evie excepted) that were fair sticking it to us that forced TheInnforcer to have to get up and dance to forsake him snotting one of the aforesaid feral Brumbies supporters.....now THAT was SAD.......

thanks Gerry why didn't you just post the pics :mad:

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Isn't Willie Roos the wiry looking black guy who kind of speaks funny (ish) when he talks.

A Saffa who kind of speaks funny? Are you sure?:iconrofl:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr

thanks Gerry why didn't you just post the pics :mad:

was that a dare?

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelling_gerry

Correct oxley...but it was Ayoub who fell for the academy award in Canberra and gave the Brumbies the penalty and win :(

I thought it was Stu Dickinson

George came in from the sidline to tell Stu