Top rugby referee Nigel Owens has got a few miles under the belt ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash between the All Blacks and Wallabies after officiating an under-15 schoolboy match in Auckland.
Owens -- who hadn't picked up a whistle since June -- wanted to dust off the cobwebs before the big Test match at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
The Welshman wasn't intially down to referee in the second round of the Rugby Championship, but after Jerome Garces suffered a calf injury in a preseason Top 14 friendly in France, Owens was given the late call-up.
"It was a very entertaining game and very enjoyable," Owens told Newshub after the schoolboy game at St Peters College.
"I needed a bit of refereeing as well which is good practice for me on Saturday. The last time I refereed was back in June, when I did England against Argentina so they try arrange some games for you to get a couple under your belt.
"I was called in late so I didn't get a chance to referee any games at home."
Was a pleasure to ref these two school teams 2day. Well played both teams was a great game & nice to see kids playing with a smile.Well done pic.twitter.com/1hWyBZQAip
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) August 23, 2017
Owens admits he had no big calls to make in the schoolboy game and was pleased with the behaviour both on and off the field.
"There was one high tackle which I had a word, but they were all very good.
"I'm quite surprised all the parents on the touchline were quite quiet as well."
Owens is down to be an assistant referee to the All Blacks vs. Argentina match in New Plymouth on Sept. 9 and will be the man in the middle for New Zealand's clash against the Springboks in Auckland a week later.