Clear memories of a hazy refereeing milestone

Referee Jonathan Kaplan will never forget the fogbound Super 14 final but is praying for better conditions for his next assignment in Christchurch - the opening Bledisloe Cup test on July 8.

The South African official will remember his 250th first-class game for the weirdest of reasons in a season when he will referee five times in New Zealand.

"I've seen fog rolling in at Cape Town, when it comes across the harbour but nothing like this close up," Kaplan said.

"Visibility was probably about 30 or 40 metres and 20 metres high but my touchies could only see to the middle of the field so they could only rule on certain things.

"We had to work together and alter our realms of responsibility. A lot fell back on me.

"There was talk before the game about safety issues for the players and whether we should delay or postpone the game but while I said it was miserable for the spectators, we did not order the weather so we carried on."

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said there had been a great deal of consultation with players, match officials, the Sky broadcasters, NZRFU, Sanzar and key sponsors and the call was to proceed.

"It may not have had to be too much worse to call it off though," he conceded.

Stadium authorities were satisfied there were no safety issues for spectators, and the difficulties of re-scheduling or delaying were major because there was no better forecast from the met service.

There were meetings for about 90 minutes until kickoff and NZRFU deputy Steve Tew checked again with the teams and officials at halftime and no one had any issue.

"It is disappointing that we end up with a game where people can't get a 100 per cent view," said Tew.

"There is no question about that but at the end it is another very exciting chapter of Super rugby history."

Kaplan admired the players' ability to adjust to the conditions.

"It was wet, a few scrums went down but nothing too major.

"The mist was thick, there was no wind to take it away, it is a game which will live in the scrapbook."

Kaplan, on his third trip to New Zealand this year, will return for the All Blacks second test against Ireland at Eden Park on June 17.