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Joubert to test new scrum laws

Johannesburg - South Africa’s Craig Joubert will referee the first Test under the scrum engagement trial sequence when he takes charge of the Rugby Championship match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on August 17.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) on Wednesday announced the names of the 12 referees for the Rugby Championship.

Jaco Peyper, the only other South African on the panel will officiate the matches between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington and Argentina and New Zealand in Buenos Aires.

Joubert will also take charge of the Bledisloe Cup Test between New Zealand and Australia in Dunedin on October 19.

The new scrum engagement sequence of "crouch, bind, set" will be trialled during the competition.

The IRB said the scrum sequence was aimed at enhancing player welfare and boosting scrum stability following a request from Sanzar.

Referees will also be instructed to ensure that the scrum is static before the ball is put into the scrum and that the ball goes in straight.

The South African duo will be joined by Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Steve Walsh (Australia), Alain Rolland and George Clancy (Ireland), Jerome Garces and Romain Poite (France), Nigel Owens (Wales) and Wayne Barnes (England).

The Springboks’ six Tests will be refereed by Pollock, Walsh, Rolland, Poite, Garces and Owens.

Lourens van der Merwe and Stuart Berry have been appointed as assistant referees, while Deon van Blommestein and Shaun Veldsman will play a role as television match officials (TMO) during the series.

The IRB announced that neutral TMOs will be appointed to Test matches from August.

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