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Cape Town - Nigel Owens says the 2013 Rugby Championship clash between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park was the best match he has ever refereed.
Owens, the most experienced referee in the history of Test match rugby with 76 Tests under his belt, was answering fan questions on the Wales Online website.
When asked what the best game he has ever refereed was, Owens pointed to the finale of that year's Rugby Championship when the Boks went down 38-27 in front of a packed Johannesburg crowd.
"It was at Ellis Park 2013. Four weeks after that I reffed Ireland v France in Dublin which was the second best," Owens said.
"The South Africa game was brilliant. They needed to win with a bonus point to take the Rugby Championship. NZ needed a losing bonus point so they both had everything to play for.
"That’s what convinced me the bonus point system can make a difference ... though it didn’t really do that in the Six Nations this year."
The All Blacks scored five tries to South Africa's four, with Bryan Habana (2), Jean de Villiers and Willie le Roux scoring for the hosts.
The fact Owens chose that match ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia which he officiated is testament to how good a Test it was.
