Ominous signs as referees named for All Blacks-Springboks tests

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Author: Cameron McMillan,
Publish Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2026, 7:26am

Referee Nika Amashukeli speaks to Siya Kolisi during the Springboks record win over the All Blacks in Wellington. Photo / Photosport

Ominous signs for the All Blacks or just the fact they have a recent poor record against the Springboks?

The referees appointed for the opening two tests for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour were the men in charge of South Africa’s most recent thrashings of the All Blacks.

Englishman Matthew Carley will be in charge of the opening test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli will referee the second test in Pretoria, as well as the tour match against the Bulls, with Australian Angus Gardner named as referee for the third test in Johannesburg. England’s Karl Dickson is in charge of the fourth and final test in Baltimore and is also the man in the middle for the tour’s opening game against the Stormers on Saturday morning.

The All Blacks have a five-win, three-loss record in games when Carley is in charge according to Rugby Database. All three defeats were against the Springboks, the last being an 18-12 loss in Cape Town in 2024, which included four yellow cards. That was the All Blacks last test in the Republic.

Carley was also referee when South Africa beat the All Blacks 35-7 in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he sent off Scott Barrett for a second yellow card offence. At the time that was the All Blacks’ worst loss in 131 years.

Scott Barrett receives a yellow card from referee Matthew Carley in a 2023 defeat to South Africa. Photo / Photosport

Amashukeli, meanwhile, was the referee of the last test between the two sides, South Africa’s record 43-10 victory in Wellington last year. The All Blacks have also lost to France (30-29) and Argentina (25-18) with Amashukeli in the middle.

Gardner has been in charge of 16 All Blacks tests, with 13 resulting in victories. Under Dickson, who was referee the last time the All Blacks beat South Africa, they have a perfect 5-0 record.

Meanwhile, several key Springboks have been named in the side for the first time this season for Sunday’s clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Captain Siya Kolisi, five-eighth Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and locking duo Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager have all been named in the side as part of 13 changes to the team that beat Wales last month.