Kaplan set for Test milestone

2008-09-09 10:23

Cape Town - South Africa's top referee Jonathan Kaplan will earn another milestone in his career when he equals the world record for Tests as a referee by controlling the Tri-Nations decider between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on Saturday.

Kaplan, who will control his 46th Test match, and therefore equal the world record, believes it to be just another number however.

He will break the record when he controls the New Zealand v Wales match in November in Cardiff.

"Actually 46 is just another number," he told Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag, "it is going to be passed at some stage by someone else anyway. "But I am proud at how long I have been an international referee and even more so than equalling the record."

Kaplan, who has seen the laws of the game change over the years, says the pressure on players and officials is greater nowadays.

"Today there is more analysis in rugby and there is more pressure on players and refs to get the rules right. The new laws require a whole different approach, especially when you have to ref six different types of laws during one season. But refs are the servants of rugby and we need to adapt like the players. I like the innovation though and am in favour of the new laws.

"I also feel that players and coaches anyway will find new and more innovative ways of putting pressure on referees."

- SAPA