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Kiwi ref for Loftus showdown

Cape Town - Little-known New Zealand referee Mike Fraser will handle duties in the all-South African Vodacom Super Rugby derby between the Bulls and Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Kick-off is scheduled for 19:10.

Following a weekend of controversial decisions - mainly by South African referees it must be said - Fraser, who is one of three NZ referees on the 21-man IRB International Referee panel, will have his hands full in what is expected to be a bruising encounter in Pretoria.

Fraser will be assisted by South African assistant referees Craig Joubert and Jaco van Heerden.

The Bulls, currently in third position in the South African Conference, host the Sharks who are not only leading the way in the SA Conference, but also top the Overall standings.

The Bulls and Sharks have already locked horns this season, with the Sharks running out 31-16 winners in their encounter in Week 1 at Kings Park in Durban.

South African referees will take charge of three matches in Week 6, with Jaco Peyper the man with the whistle in the Australian derby between the Waratahs and Rebels on Friday, March 21 (kick-off 10:40), while Lourens van der Merwe and Stuart Berry - both the centre of "confusing" decisions last weekend, regarding which SANZAR are expected to reveal more clarity on Wednesday - in charge of the Force v Chiefs (Saturday, March 22 at 13:00) and Lions v Reds (Saturday, March 22 at 17:05) matches, respectively.

Officials for Week 6

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

Highlanders v Hurricanes, Dunedin - 08:35
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Television match official: Chris Watt (New Zealand)

Waratahs v Rebels, Sydney - 10:40
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

Blues v Cheetahs, Eden Park - 08:35
Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Brumbies v Stormers, Canberra - 10:40
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
Television match official: Peter Marshall (Australia)

Force v Chiefs, Perth - 13:00
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)

Lions v Reds, Johannesburg - 17:05
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)

Bulls v Sharks, Pretoria - 19:10
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
Television match official: Deon van Blommenstein (South Africa)

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