Boks get referee Ben O’Keeffe for third time at Rugby World Cup 2023

For the second week in a row and for the third time at this year’s Rugby World Cup, New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe will handle the Springboks during a match at the tournament in France.

O’Keeffe was the man in charge in the Boks’ Pool B game against Ireland, which the Europeans won 13-8, and he was also in charge last weekend when the Boks beat France 29-28 in the quarter-finals. he will now take the whistle in the semi-final against England in Paris on Saturday.

Jaco Peyper

Angus Gardner of Australia will be the man in charge of the other semi-final between New Zealand and Argentina on Friday night. Both matches kick off at 9pm.

Gardner will be assisted by Nic Berry (Australia) and Karl Dickson (England) with Ben Whitehouse (Wales) as Television Match Official.

O’Keeffe’s assistants will be Andrew Brace (Ireland) and Paul Williams (New Zealand) and TMO Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand).

It will be a first Rugby World Cup semi-final for both Gardner and O’Keeffe.

South Africa’s Jaco Peyper, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, wasn’t considered for the semi-finals, owing to a calf injury sustained during the Wales v Argentina quarter-final in Marseille.