Kaplan: Refs not up to standard

Kaplan was commenting via his website, www.ratetheref.co.za, after the Super Rugby final between the Waratahs and Crusaders in Sydney last Saturday.

While admitting referee Craig Joubert made a mistake in awarding the Waratahs a late penalty to win the game, Kaplan did have praise for his fellow South African, saying he “allowed the game to breathe”  and that his “composure under pressure was supreme”.

However, Kaplan expressed disappointment at the overall standard of the officials in the competition.

He wrote: "I have to say that the general standard of refereeing was not the best I have seen. There are some who are doing well, but the general standard is not good enough for a competition which is on the global stage. The work of the TMOs was a borderline disaster until the latter stages of the competition, but there was also an incident once again in the final where it appeared as if (Nemani) Nadolo’s foot touches the line on his way to scoring the Crusaders' second try.

“Something has to change. Something has to give. Otherwise this game will continue to be dogged by controversy, and there is only a certain amount that can be swept under the carpet.”