French referee Romain Poite will officiate the Springboks’ Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Port Elizabeth on 19 August.

Poite was at the centre of controversy this past weekend when he awarded the All Blacks what looked likely to be a match-winning penalty during the latter stages of the decisive Test against the British & Irish Lions, only to change his mind.

The Frenchman also came under fire when he incorrectly sent Bok hooker Bismarck du Plessis to the sin bin when he misjudged what was a perfectly legal tackle on former All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter in a massive 2013 Test. Du Plessis was later red-carded after receiving a second yellow.

Another French referee in Pascal Guazere will take charge of the Boks’ second Rugby Championship Test against the Pumas in Salta, while countryman Jérôme Garcès will officiate the Springboks’ match against the All Blacks at Newlands.

New Zealand’s Glen Jackson and Ben O’Keeffe will referee the Boks’ two Tests against Australia, while Nigel Owens will man the whistle when South Africa take on New Zealand in Albany.

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