Karl Dickson to Referee Springboks vs All Blacks Series Decider in Baltimore
- England's Karl Dickson will take charge of the fourth and final Test between South Africa and New Zealand on 12 September
- The Springboks hold a 2-1 series lead heading into the Baltimore decider, with kick-off set for 23:00 SA time
- Dickson has a mixed history with the Springboks, having refereed them four times with two wins and two losses
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World Rugby has confirmed the match officials for the fourth and final Test of the 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series between the Springboks and the All Blacks, scheduled for Saturday, 12 September in Baltimore, Maryland.
Karl Dickson of England will hold the referee's whistle for the series decider. He will be supported on the touchlines by fellow English officials Matthew Carley and Christophe Ridley. Andrew Jackson takes the TMO role, also representing England, while Italy's Matteo Liperini will serve as Foul Play Review Officer.
South Africa's record under Dickson
The appointment is notable, given that Dickson has a perfectly split record when overseeing Springbok Tests. The 44-year-old has refereed South Africa on four previous occasions, with the team winning two and losing two.
His whistle presided over a 29-10 Springbok victory over Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha in August 2021, and a 45-12 win against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in November 2024. However, South Africa also suffered defeats under Dickson, losing 25-24 to Ireland at Kings Park in Durban in July 2024, and 24-17 to New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland in September 2025.
Series context ahead of the Baltimore decider
The Springboks enter the match with a 2-1 series advantage. New Zealand took the opening Test at Ellis Park, but South Africa responded with back-to-back victories at the Cape Town Stadium and FNB Stadium to lead heading into the final fixture.
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Kick-off in Baltimore is scheduled for 23:00 South African time, with the match broadcast live on SuperSport.
The Springbok matchday squad is captained by Siya Kolisi at No. 6, with Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje forming the lock pairing. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at flyhalf, with Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf. Damian Willemse wears the No. 15 jersey, while Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok provide cover from the bench.
Source: Briefly News
