Jaco van Heerden will take the whistle when the Sharks travel to Johannesburg this weekend to take on the Lions in a crucial Super Rugby Africa 2 conference clash.
It’s important to note that we, as Sharks fans, have no issues whatsoever with van Heerden or any other match official. I feel I need to get this out of the way early on.
The assistant refs this week will be Jaco Peyper and AJ Jacobs, with another official towards whom Sharks have literally zero (0) animosity, Johan Greeff, in the TMO booth.
I could not be more thrilled about these excellent appointments. I’m sure you all agree with me.
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Rob, me thinks thou doest protesteth too much
Jokes aside, I think this is going to be a cracker of a game. Sharks may surprise a lot of people.
I couldn’t agree more on everything written…
Think this should be a great game, if we jsut start good with no yellow cards! That could cost us dearly. Glad we are not favourites, we seem to love getting stuck in the big games when we are. Sharks by 12!
Can Peyper stay out of the limelight or will we see the TJ having a major influence where he could not see and then did actually see better than what was on the TV?
I am willing to put R100 up that Coenie or Ettas will get some enforced rest during the game as these officials believe they exert too much effort and in fear of their health make them take a 10 min rest to prevent any cardiac complications.
Referees are like traffic cops, nobody likes them – they know it, we know it.
Jaco van Heerden, Jaco Peyper and Johan Greeff! Why do those names ring a bell? I suppose they must have officiated during some excellent Shark wins in the past
Nice one Rob! Excellent officials for such a big game!
Ag fok
Uh, I mean, good luck gentlemen!
Fine, upstanding gentleman who don’t fanny about. We count our blessings.
From what i remember wasnt it this Bulls ref with the Bulls ref chairman as TMO that robbed us against the bulls last year??
The positivity on here is so syrupy sweet I’m almost afraid of getting diabetes from reading it!!!
I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or bitchy. ..
Looks. Like one of teams hit the trifecta….
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : I say that cause I don’t know any other betting terms that will describe this better.
This surely is the best of the bunch, could not have asked for anything better, they complete one onther and will be the best force on the field of any game, thank you to the organizers for setting this uo perfectly
@FireTheLooser (Comment 4) : So true, but without them we would have no game at all.
@Hulk (Comment 5) : Poor Johan Greef, got it right last weekend only to be thrown under the bus by Peyper.
Dear Rob. I’ve always said that you are one perceptive rugby writer. I couldn’t agree more. Jaco van Heerden is arguably the most talented young referee I have ever seen on a rugby field, not just in South Africa, not just in the world, but in the entire universe. I am so excited that he and his brilliant team of assistants have been appoint to ref this game. This is one game that is in good hands. Thank you, SANZAAAAAR. You guys are great. Good luck, Jaco. I hope you have another excellent game to add to your excellent CV!
@Dunx (Comment 9) : No ways, son. This guy is the Jaco that is the best referee in the world. I really, like him…really. I’m so happy that he’s in charge of this game…
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : Had to read your comments above twice, sometimes it is very hard to pick up sarcasm in posts.
@Dunx (Comment 19) :
In the words of the Hound at least it’s not Stàrvin Marvin!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 20) :
Still want to know who chooses the officials and can we refuse to accept them?????????????
@The hound (Comment 24) : probably the same persons who decided on this brainless system and no I don’t think any team can refuse appointed officials.
@JD (Comment 25) : Next question would be do we have a representative on the panel, who is he and what is he doing to earn his salary
@The hound (Comment 26) : @The hound (Comment 26) : SANZAAAAAR appoint the refs and would also like to know who in SANZAAAAR!
Peyper was not flawless last weekend, still a long shot better than his usual self. Hate to admit it, but Jaco was kind of on our side from the touchline last weekend. Fingers crossed that someone steals his car in jhb before the game or he has a smash and grab and gives the sharks all his love from the new found jhb hatred
@pastorshark (Comment 17) :
@jdolivier (Comment 28) :
@jdolivier (Comment 28) : So we’re looking for match officials that are biased FOR the Sharks……not unbiased officials?
It certainly serves to bring all the whinging about match officials a new perspective. 
@Dancing Bear (Comment 31) : Rather complain that all the calls go your way than against you, might be a nice change of pace
@Dancing Bear (Comment 31) : no they must be totally neutral and unbiased they must just give the 50/50 calls the Sharks way
@jdolivier (Comment 32) :
I just want calls that are accurate and unbiased, regardless of who benefits. But hey, that is just me….. 
@JD (Comment 33) : I can get on board with that JD.
Just show no bias when giving the 50/50 calls to the Sharks! 
@jdolivier (Comment 28) : Ja must agree except for Coenie’s yellow card he was not to bad.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 35) : now you’re getting it!!!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 34) : it’s human to make mistakes all I want is a ref to be consistent! If you allow it for one team it must also be allowed for the other side.
@JD (Comment 38) : I agree consistency is the key. As for the Coenie yellow card, as I understand it, the new TMO guidance states that the referee is supposed to make their call on the field, and then ask for help from the TMO to see if there is something they missed. If there is nothing additional in the replay, then the referee is supposed to go with his on field call. This is new this season. I beleive Peyper made his call on the field and really did not see anything on the replay to override his on field decision. I think his communication was poor and added to the confusion, but I believe he handled the situation correctly based on the new TMO guidance this season.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 34) : Unbiasd officials are not a nice to have, they are a non negotiable.
Every step should be in place to make it an even playing field.The first thing to ensure is a modicum of neutrality.
Lets start by refusing to play another game in Bloem with a Bloem lawyer in the middle and a Grey College school teacher on the wing.
Refuse to be put into another situation where we are reliant on Peyper and van der Merwe discovering that they have a conscience, and that they can overcome their partisan limitations.
Neutral officials should be the order of the day,ny when the Stormers play in Singapore its with an Argentinian ref, not a Japanese,when they play the Cheetahs theres no Peyper.
Cannot remember the last time Sharks played with a Natal referee,
@Dancing Bear (Comment 39) : “please have a look as the screen quality is bad” then the TMO says it does not look as if he made contact with the head first and looked as if it slipped up from the shoulder and should just be a penalty. TP then changed his mind as to the quality of the pictures and could clearly see it was direct contact to the head therefore a yellow card!?!?!?!?!?!? Personally I think he decided to card him regardless of what the TMO said so why bother asking him for his opinion!?!?!?!?!?
@The hound (Comment 40) : are there top tier refs from KZN?
@JD (Comment 42) : Craig Joubert,Stuart Berry,Marius Jonker, Archie Sehlako Vusi Msibi
@Dancing Bear (Comment 34) : Agreed
@The hound (Comment 40) : I fully agree refs should at all times be neutral ,this gives credibility on all fronts ,when did this nonsense asire with partisan refs?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 39) : Interesting point, on the SA rugby show that was on last night, this point was raised by Butch James and AJ Venter and from what they were saying it seems that there is no hard and fast guideline as to whose opinion is the one to go with, The guys in the studio felt that these days the TMO’s are experienced refs, have the best technology and equipment available and that their decision should be the one adhered to. It was interesting how they brought up the issue without mentioning or showing the Peyper decision while the other incidents of TMO disputes were fully analysed. Seems as if Peyper is now our leading SA ref and is therefore Royal game.
@The hound (Comment 43) : are they still in the game? Only watching Sharks games and have not seen any of them so was under the impression that they might have retired!?!?!!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 46) : jabTP may not be shown as being wrong as he’s always right even if he’s wrong!!!