KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks welcomed South African rugby referee Johnathan Kaplan this week, even if he hasn't always come to the party.
Kaplan controls the All Blacks for the 13th time in Saturday's Tri-Nations decider against the Wallabies, which will draw him level with New Zealand's Paul Honiss as the most-capped referee with 46 tests.
Welshman Derek Bevan is still the All Blacks' most familiar whistler with 16 tests. He oversaw six All Blacks defeats, while Kaplan is second on that list with four.
Honiss made headlines in Australia after he said South African referee Craig Joubert allowed the Wallabies to use questionable tactics at the scrum and breakdown in their 34-19 win in Sydney; while another South African Mark Lawrence allowed the All Blacks to dominate the Wallabies' scrum and lineout in their 39-10 win in Auckland a week later.
The All Blacks rated Kaplan one of their favourite whistlers as they plead for a fair contest in the set pieces on Saturday.
"Jonathan's a good referee, one of the best in the world," forwards coach Steve Hansen said.
"Paul (Honiss) is not too far off the mark. Most referees do it slightly differently and you've got to make sure you do your homework before you go into a test match and do what you can do."
All Blacks prop Greg Somerville agreed there were varying scrum interpretations this year but felt Kaplan would allow a fair contest in an area which often baffles referees and fans alike.
"His ruling of the scrum area's really good and he doesn't put up with nonsense of running around and that kind of thing. I've got a lot of time for Jonathan when it comes to controlling the scrums," Somerville said.
"He's pretty consistent, he doesn't favour one team. You're always going to try and put pressure on the opposition but as long as you do it right technically and within the laws then he'll let you have a go. He won't put up with illegal stuff, so you know where you stand."
Wallabies forwards coach and former test loose forward Jim Williams had no issues with Kaplan.
His bigger concern was trying to right a wobbly Wallabies lineout from the 53-8 hiding from South Africa.
"I think the scrums have been fairly even and a lot of the ascendancy has come down to the referee as to who's binding and who's not.
"It's a matter of interpretation and I think our guys have been working very well.
"I haven't had a lot to do with (Kaplan). The last time I had him was the Tri-Nations game in Wellington in 2000 so I was very happy with him, especially in the last 30 seconds of the match."
- NZPA
