World Rugby has confirmed the match officials for the four-Test 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series between South Africa and New Zealand, with England's Matthew Carley taking the opener at Ellis Park and Australia's Angus Gardner handed the third Test in Johannesburg on 5 September.
Carley will referee the first Test at Ellis Park on 22 August, with Georgia's Nika Amashukeli taking the second Test at Cape Town Stadium a week later. Gardner completes the South African leg at FNB Stadium on 5 September before England's Karl Dickson flies to Baltimore for the fourth Test at M&T Bank Stadium on 12 September. The same quartet will also cover the All Blacks' four tour matches against the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions.
The headline appointment is Gardner's. Weeks after the storm that followed England's 31-24 Nations Championship win over Argentina in Santiago del Estero on 18 July, the Australian returns to the biggest stage. That chaotic match produced seven yellow cards and ended with Bautista Delguy's late try being disallowed after a TMO review. As the final whistle sparked ugly scenes, Argentina fly-half Tomas Albornoz ran at Gardner and made physical contact while remonstrating with the officials, with the referee repeatedly telling him to back away. An object was also thrown from the crowd as Gardner left the pitch.
