SANZAR have announced the referee appointments for the 2012 Super Rugby Semi-Finals with Craig Joubert and Steve Walsh taking charge of this weekend’s matches.

The New Zealand Conference winning Chiefs will host the Crusaders in Hamilton this Friday with Craig Joubert in the middle, while Steve Walsh will officiate the top-of-the-table Stormers and South African Conference champions versus the Sharks match the following evening in Cape Town.

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SANZAR Game Manager Lyndon Bray said the appointments reflected the best referees being used at the business end of the competition.

“The coaches are part of our decision-making process at this time of year, and since 2009 we have had their support for ensuring that we select our best referees on merit, rather than based on neutrality. ”

“The coaches have been an integral part of endorsing the appointment of our referees in the Super Rugby Finals Series.”

Bray went on to say, “The four best referees have been selected on their performances this season for the Finals Series. ”

“The two best performing referees are now selected for the Semi-Final matches, and in the first instance they will go head to head for the Final. If the form of one referee who refereed the Qualifying Finals is considered on review to be better than the semi-final referees, then they are still considered in the mix for the Final.”

Super Rugby Semi-Finals

Date: Friday 27 July 2012
Match: Chiefs v Crusaders
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
Kick off Time: 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 NSW/ACT, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Kaplan, Keith Brown
TMO: Garratt Williamson

Date: Saturday 28 July 2012
Match: Stormers v Sharks
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
Kick-off Time: 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 29 July 03:05 NZ Time, Sunday 29 July 01:05 NSW/ACT)
Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper, Marius Jonker
TMO: Shaun Veldsman