Referee change for Boks v Samoa

Editor

An injury to referee John Lacey has necessitate changes to the match officials for Saturday's quadrangular tournament in Pretoria.

An injury to referee John Lacey has necessitate changes to the match officials for Saturday's quadrangular tournament in Pretoria.

Lacey was set to referee the clash between the Springboks and Samoa but damaged a hamstring when training on Tuesday.

Pascal Gauzère has now been moved from the Italy v Scotland game to showdown between South Africa and Samoa. Leighton Hodges of Wales will take Gauzère's place in Italy v Scotland.

Last week Hodges refereed Canada vs Ireland in Toronto and earlier refereed the match at Twickenham between England and the Barbarians.

As the number one assistant referee and therefore the referee's replacement should the need arise, Lourens van der Merwe, just back from Japan comes in.

JP Doyle, who has been shooting up the referees' ladder, comes in as the number two assistant referee in the South Africa v Samoa match.

Revised appointments for quadrangular tournament:

Scotland vs Italy at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Timekeeper: Gabriel Pappas (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

South Africa vs Samoa at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Hennessy (Wales), JP Doyle (England)
Television match official: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Timekeeper: Gabriel Pappas (South Africa)
Assessor: Nigel Williams