‘They won’t be pushed around’: Jaco Peyper backs officials for Springbok-All Blacks Tests

Jaco Peyper, the Springboks' laws advisor, has expressed full confidence in the referees appointed for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Springbok-All Blacks Tests. The referees include England's Matthew Carley, Georgian Nika Amashukeli, and Australia's Angus Gardner for the first three Tests, as well as England's Karl Dickson for the final Test in Baltimore.

The appointments were made following discussions at the Shape of the Game Conference, where World Rugby and the unions explored the interactions between officials and teams during major Test matches. Peyper emphasized that the referees have the necessary experience and strong character to handle themselves professionally and will not be influenced by the home crowd or the All Blacks.

The inclusion of these highly experienced referees has been supported by Peyper, who believes they have the top referees for the task. He further highlighted that the referees will be annoyed when teams try to dictate how they officiate, as they have earned the right to officiate in these matches. According to Peyper, referees such as Matthew Carley are known for being firm and decisive in handling breakdowns and negative or cynical behavior.

Peyper also mentioned that he would prefer to have direct face-to-face contact with the coaches and captains before a big Test to gain a better understanding of each team's tactics. He stressed that this is not about influencing the match but about being well-prepared and making informed decisions. Peyper noted that the referee protocols discussed at the Shape of the Game Conference might be revisited after the series, potentially leading to some adjustments by the end of the year.