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Top NZ journalist raises referee concerns

Cape Town - While refusing to make any Super Rugby quarter-final predictions, top New Zealand commentator and journalist, Tony Johnson, has hinted at referee controversy this weekend.

READ: Super Rugby quarter-final referee appointments

Writing in his weekly SuperSport.com column, Johnson has questioned SANZAAR's referee appointments for the four playoff matches.

Johnson said: There will be tears at some point over the reffing, and I cannot see why Sanzar seen fit to appoint an Aussie to referee a Kiwi-Aussie game in Aussie, a Kiwi to ref a Kiwi-Saffa game in NZ, and two Saffa refs to police two Saffa-Kiwi games in SA. Have they run out of money? Do they like controversy?

Australia's Angus Gardner will officiate the Brumbies' match against the Highlanders in Canberra on Friday (10:00 kick-off SA time).

New Zealand's Glen Jackson will be the man in the middle for the Hurricanes' clash against the Sharks on Saturday at 09:35, before Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper take charge of the Lions v Crusaders showdown in Johannesburg (16:30) and Stormers v Chiefs clash in Cape Town (19:00), respectively, later in the day.

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