Rugby
Carlo Jonkerman, Special to ESPN 6y

Can Springboks' unbeaten run with ref Jackson continue at Newlands?

As if the motivation for a clean sweep against England isn't enough in Cape Town on Saturday, the Springboks also have an enviable record with referee Glen Jackson to maintain.

That is because the Springboks are unbeaten in the six Tests which Jackson has refereed of theirs.

The 42-year-old former New Zealand Māori flyhalf first took charge of a Bok Test in June 2014, just four years after his playing career ended at Saracens in England.

On that occasion Scotland were thrashed 55-6, as Heyneke Meyer and captain-at-the-time Victor Matfield's team ran riot at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Current Springboks Willie le Roux (try) and Handre Pollard (5 conversions, 1 penalty) played their part in the scoring while Duane Vermeulen and Oupa Mohoje also played.

A year later, Jackson officiated the Springboks Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires. The Boks came out on top 26-12 on that occasion, in a match which featured seven current squad members.

Jackson handled two Springboks Tests during Allister Coetzee's debut year as national coach in 2016 and while both were again won, they were close.

Ireland was beaten 19-13 in Port Elizabeth (despite Willie le Roux's sin-binning) which decided the series in the Springboks' favour while in their next Test Jackson was in charge when Argentina succumbed 30-23 in Nelspruit. Those were half of the Springboks total wins in 2016, an annus horribilis if ever there was one.

Nonetheless, usual service with Jackson as referee continued last year, initially, when he took charge of their season opener against France and they were promptly dispatched 37-14 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Jesse Kriel dotted down for a try, while Elton Jantjies was the chief scorer with 17 points from four conversions and three penalties.

However, the Springboks haven't managed a full haul of wins when Jackson has been in charge. They could only manage a 23-23 draw against Australia in the Rugby Championship, the most recent time he has been the man in the middle. In that Test in Perth, Coetzee's team had to hold on nervously for the final 10 minutes after the Wallabies levelled the scores.

Apart from their history with Jackson as referee, the recent past also suggests the Springboks can be confident of maintaining their unbeaten run with him in charge on Saturday.

Jackson has officiated in nine Super Rugby matches so far in 2018 and on seven occasions the home team has won, and one of those when they didn't was when the Bulls went down 28-29 to Highlanders in Round 11. Six of his appointments have also involved South African franchises so familiarity with his interpretations and nuances should also hold them in good stead against Eddie Jones' England, who are short of confidence.

At Newlands, Jackson will be assisted by the referees from the previous two Tests, namely France's Romain Poite and his fellow New Zealander Ben O'Keeffe. Irishman Simon McDowell will once again be the television match official (TMO).

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