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Owens to take charge of Ireland and All Blacks

Welshman Nigel Owens has been confirmed as the referee for Ireland's Rugby World Cup quarter-fina...



Welshman Nigel Owens has been confirmed as the referee for Ireland's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand, after the officials for the last eight encounters were announced earlier.

Owens also had the whistle for the clash between the two sides in 2013. A re-taken Aaron Cruden conversion three minutes after the clock turned red was the difference between the sides on that occasion.

Jérôme Garcès, Jaco Peyper, and Wayne Barnes will take charge of the other quarter-finals in Tokyo and Oita over the weekend.

England will face Australia in the first of the knockout games, with Jérôme Garcès carrying the whistle in Oita.

On Sunday, Wales take on France, who have been leapfrogged by Japan in the World rankings. Jaco Peyper will take charge of that game, his 50th test match.

The hosts Japan will look to repeat the 2013 miracle in Brighton when they face the Springboks on Sunday. That will be the hosts' first-ever Rugby World Cup knockout game. Wayne Barnes will be the man in the middle.

Exceptional

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said of the teams of officials: “Every team takes time to settle at a major event and I am delighted with how this group of exceptional match officials have responded across the pool stage.

“They are the best of the best and have played their full part in what will be remembered as an incredible pool stage.

“I would like to congratulate Jérôme, Nigel, Jaco and Wayne, the assistant referees and TMOs and we now look forward to four compelling matches on the road to determining who will lift the Webb Ellis Cup on 2 November.”

World Rugby High-Performance Match Official Manager Alain Rolland added: “As a team, the match officials have worked hard to achieve consistency and clarity of decision-making during an exciting pool stage.

“While it is the referees who will get the recognition for the quarter-final appointments, this is a team game. We have an excellent team of referees, assistant referees and TMOs with a strong culture of working together to elevate performances.

“As we are looking ahead to the knockout stage, everyone remains in the reckoning for semis and finals selection.”

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Ireland Knockout Stages New Zealand Nigel Owens Quarter-finals Referees Rugby World Cup