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There’s strong mail that tonight’s Wales-Wallabies clash at Millennium Stadium will be controversial South African referee Jonathan Kaplan’s last hurrah. Hallelujah, there is a rugby god after all. And about time.
But why let the 67-Test world record holder loose on the Wallabies?
That smacks of a quirky decision by IRB ref’s boss Paddy O’Brien, who was no great shakes as an international referee during his 38-game career.
And Kiwi O’Brien hasn’t improved his judgment sitting behind his Dublin desk.
The quirk? There’s no love lost between Kaplan and Robbie Deans’ men. Kaplan has refereed the men in gold four times on Deans’ watch.
The results tell the story:
* Lost to the All Blacks 28-24 at Suncorp in 2008.
* Lost to the All Blacks 19-18 at Stadium Australia in 2009.
* Drew with Ireland 20-20 at Croke Park Dublin in 2009.
* And lost to the All Blacks 20-10 at Jade Stadium Christchurch in 2010.
Not one win in four, even worse than Kaplan’s track record refereeing NSW, where the Waratahs have lost 14 of 16 matches.
It’s taken a long time for the penny to drop on Kaplan’s inability to control a game by not refereeing both sides. His arrogance towards the players has done the rest.
Prior to the recent RWC in New Zealand, Kaplan was far and away the most-capped referee in rugby history with 63.
* Next best and daylight – 48 for Irishman Alain Rolland’s, who controlled the 2007 RWC final between the Boks and England.
* 46 for Kiwi Paul Honiss, now retired.
* 44 for Welshman Derek Bevan, also retired, who reffed the 1991 RWC final between the Wallabies and England.
* 43 for Australian Stuart Dickinson, retired as well.
* 38 for South African Andre Watson, retired as the only two-time RWC final ref – 1999 Wallabies-France, and 2003 Wallabies-England.
* Kiwi-born Australian Steve Walsh is the next best of the current refs with 37.
* Englishman Wayne Barnes has 27, along with Welshman Nigel Owen.
* South African Craig Joubert has 22.
That made Kaplan a laydown misere to referee the recent RWC final, if the Boks failed to reach the decider.
But compatriot Joubert won the honour, and deservedly so, despite his “junior” standing.
Kaplan didn’t even make the quarters after just four unimportant group games: Tonga-Canada, Canada-Japan, England-Georgia, and Ireland-Italy.
The writing was on the wall. It’s about to be carved in stone.
The feeling is like Australian golfer Wayne Grady’s memorable quote after winning his only major – the 1990 USPGA Championship.
“You bloody bewdy”.