Don't give me lip #4, I'll snot klap you...!

Jonathan Kaplan is the most experienced international test referee of all time, this year becoming the first referee ever to take control of over 50 test matches (53 to date). He began refereeing in 1984 and took charge of his 1st international test between Namibia and Zimbabwe, in Harare, in 1996.  Kaplan doesn’t take kak on the field, once telling Bob Skinstad, “You talk on the radio, I’ll ref the game…”. At 174cm and 79kg, he isn’t scared to take charge, putting the often towering players around him in their place.

Who better to chat to in a year which has highlighted so many law changes and clear problems at the scrum and breakdown areas. BlogSpotRugby caught up with Jonathan Kaplan and asked him a few quick questions.

Here Goes:

• Dooley: There is a constant need for new referees to be trained up to a professional standard, How can someone go about getting qualified, and how long does it take to get up to a provincial standard?

JK: There is a desperate shortage of referees in SA. Training takes place over a number of years and there is no guarantee that one will ever reach provincial standard. Some take 5 years, some take much longer. Others never get there. The object should really be to contribute to the best of ones ability!

• Dooley: It has been a bit of a roller-coaster as far as refereeing is concerned over the last 2 years with the introduction of the ELV’s, then reverting back to old laws, and keeping a few of the new ones. How difficult was it for you to adapt and break old “habits” as far as laws go, in front of the rugby watching world?

JK: Well in one calendar year I refereed 6 different sets of laws, sometimes from one week to the next, but rugby needs to evolve on a constant basis and this was necessary.

• Dooley: What is your favourite venue worldwide to referee at, and is there a venue you’d like to ref a test at, but haven’t yet had a chance?

JK: Favourite venues are Stade de France , Suncorp in Brisbane and Millennium in Cardiff. After all that’s been said about the place, I would still like to referee a test in Hamilton, NZ funnily enough.

• Dooley: The breakdown remains an issue. Do you think it should be a free for all at the breakdown, or how would you suggest this could be made easier for the referees to interpret and more fairly controlled for the teams involved?

JK: I think it is as good as its going to be. It’s not a free for all. There are some poor decisions made by referees but generally players know their responsibilities. The objective should always be to try and ensure a fair contest.

• Dooley: At times it seems like infringements at the scrum are a one for one affair, what is actually going on down there in the engine room?

JK: Scrums are similar to the breakdown. There is lots going on and we have to decide what is material and important. My general guidelines for the scrum are line up on the mark , take the bind on the hit and do your work after the ball is fed. This is by no means definitive but is a base from which to start adjudicating what is going on.

• Dooley: I’m the 1st to scream at the ref during a game, but also the 1st to appreciate what a difficult job you guys do, and admit I couldn’t do it better. Do you think ref’s should be evaluated on their individual performances and the results made public?

JK: Referees are assessed after every game, in minute detail. (also by teams who can contribute to the assessment). It is tough to get everything right but we do aim for zero defect! I do not believe it is in the interests of the game to make these results public as the public are often not qualified to make judgments on referees whose positions are already under huge pressure and scrutiny. Some things are better left unknown to the public, eg. nuclear secrets!

• Dooley: You’ve been known to cruise the Camp’s Bay strip, what’s your favourite watering hole to catch a drink and wind down?

JK: I generally enjoy Caprice and the Sand Bar, but not that fussy when you are thirsty.