Hendrik Cronjé

Bloemfontein - Jonathan Kaplan is not intimidated by any superstar, the importance of a match or a home crowd.

The Free State Cheetahs therefore believe there is no chance of Blue Bulls captain Victor Matfield or any of the team’s Springbok stars intimidating Kaplan in next Saturday’s Currie Cup final.

“Kaplan’s appointment gives us great peace of mind,” said Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské.

“Kaplan does not allow himself to be intimidated by anyone. He is definitely the world’s best referee. He has showed on several occasions that he does not get intimidated.

“Even Matfield will not be able to intimidate him like he did Ian Smith of Australia a few weeks ago.”

The Free State camp was very unhappy with Smith’s performance as referee in a league game against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, especially with the manner in which he was influenced by Matfield in the see-saw match.

Smith is set to pay a heavy price as he flunked an important test and is not expected to officiate in important Super14 games.

Kaplan, who will be officiating in his fifth Currie Cup final, is well-known to both the Blue Bulls and Cheetahs’ camps.

He handled his first final in 2002 when the Blue Bulls beat the Lions 31-7 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

In 2005 he was the referee when the Cheetahs surprised the Blue Bulls by beating them 29-25 at Loftus Versfeld. He was also in charge for the following year’s final when the Bulls and Cheetahs played to a 26-all draw at Vodacom Park.

Kaplan was involved in the Rugby World Cup of 2007 and therefore his next Currie Cup final was in 2008 when the Sharks beat the Bulls 14-9 in Durban.

Drotské said that Kaplan blows only what he sees in front of him in finals, irrespective of who the players, coaches and teams are. He is also not influenced by the crowd.

The Cheetahs coach said that consistency is all teams can ask for in a final.

Kaplan, who officiated in his 50th Test at Murrayfield, is one of only 24 referees to have handled Currie Cup finals since 1939.

André Watson (7) and the late Steve Strydom (6) are the only referees to have handled more finals than Kaplan.