﻿Despite widespread calls for a neutral official, Sanzaar has appointed South Africa's Jaco Peyper to referee the Super Rugby final between the Lions and Crusaders in Johannesburg early Sunday (NZT).

Peyper, who refereed the semifinal between the Lions and Hurricanes, will have the whistle for the final (kickoff 2am Sunday NZT), with New Zealand's Glen Jackson, who refereed the Crusaders-Chiefs semifinal, and Marius van der Westhuizen as his assistants.

The Television Match Official (TMO) is Marius Jonker.

The decision by the competition's governing body to ignore pleas for a neutral referee for the final were justified by organisers adamant their "merit-based" appointment system remains the correct procedure.



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Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos said: "The match official selection is never easy ... The selection criteria for all match official appointments for the last two years follows a clear tournament policy – as agreed by the Sanzaar executive committee and the tournament's stakeholders – that such appointments be merit-based.

"This policy is written into the tournament protocols and appointments are made according to this policy on a weekly basis. [It] is also the policy used for the finals last year as well as this year.



"This merit-based policy was reflected with the appointment last year of New Zealand referee Glen Jackson to referee the Hurricanes-Lions final in Wellington. Sanzaar stands behind the policy and believes the best referees should be available to officiate the best matches."

It was widely thought that top Aussie whistle-blower Angus Gardner would have been the smart appointment, with his neutrality removing even the perception of national bias.

Peyper is an outstanding referee, though his decision to yellow card Hurricanes first five Beauden Barrett in the semifinal was criticised by many for being too harsh in the circumstances.



2017 Super Rugby final match officials



Match Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)

Assistant Referee (1): Glen Jackson (NZ)

Assistant Referee (2): Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)

Television Match Official (TMO): Marius Jonker (SA)