Angus Gardner replaces Nika Amashukeli as referee for South Africa v New Zealand Test

Australia’s Angus Gardner will referee Saturday’s second Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town after Georgian official Nika Amashukeli was ruled out through illness.

Amashukeli had been appointed to take charge of the match, but World Rugby confirmed he had not recovered in time to officiate the fixture.

Gardner was originally due to referee the third Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks, which will be played at FNB Stadium next weekend. The Australian will now oversee the Cape Town Test, while Amashukeli has been moved into the role originally allocated to Gardner for the third meeting.

World Rugby confirmed the change in a statement, saying: “Angus Gardner will now referee this weekend’s Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town as Nika Amashukeli has not recovered from illness.”

The governing body also announced changes to the wider officiating team for Saturday’s match.

Brett Cronan will act as the Television Match Official, while Eric Gauzins has been appointed as the Foul Play Review Officer. Sam Grove-White will join the team as the second assistant referee.

The changes come ahead of the second Test in Cape Town, with the officiating appointments now adjusted because of Amashukeli’s illness. Gardner’s switch means the Australian will take charge of the match this weekend before Amashukeli assumes responsibility for the third Test at FNB Stadium.

The referee change has been confirmed as attention turns to the latest contest between the Springboks and the All Blacks. The appointment is also being discussed alongside scrutiny of refereeing decisions from the teams’ previous meeting at Ellis Park, with former Springboks players having considered calls that affected South Africa in that Test.

A separate Oom Rugby preview has also examined what can be expected from the Springboks on Saturday, as the teams prepare for the Cape Town encounter.

The revised appointments leave Gardner as the match referee for the second Test, supported by the updated group of officials. Cronan, Gauzins and Grove-White will perform their respective roles, while Amashukeli is expected to return to the schedule for next weekend’s third Test at FNB Stadium.