Joubert among refs to take charge of Ireland’s Six Nations games

WORLD CUP final referee Craig Joubert is among the officials taking charge of Ireland’s matches in the upcoming Six Nations while the IRB have kept faith with controversial Irish whistler Alain Rolland for the tournament.

South African Joubert, who was criticised by France for what they saw as pro-New Zealand bias during their 8-7 defeat to the All Blacks in Auckland 10 days ago, has been given control of Ireland’s third game of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations campaign, the home game against Italy on February 25.

Joubert will be a familiar face to Declan Kidney’s players having taken charge of Irish pool games at the World Cup against the USA and Russia as well as the quarter-final defeat by Wales.

And he will also be reacquainted with the French having been handed their final game of the championship, in Cardiff against Wales on March 17.

France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy was among those who thought the South African referee did his team few favours at Eden Park.

“Joubert was only looking at us. Richie McCaw played the whole match in our camp. He did a lot of bad things and nobody told him anything,” Harinordoquy said.

Irish official Rolland received similar flak in Wales after sending off their captain Sam Warburton for a controversial tackle on Vincent Clerc in last month’s semi-final defeat by France, although he his decision was backed by the International Rugby Board. Nonetheless, he has been kept clear of an immediate reunion with the Welsh, instead handed control of France versus England on March 11 and Italy-Scotland on March 17.

Welshman Nigel Owens will get the action underway when he referees France-Italy in Paris on Febraury 4, with Bruff’s George Clancy taking charge of Scotland-England at Murrayfield on the same day.

England’s Wayne Barnes will officiate Ireland’s opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on February 5, with his comptariot Dave Pearson in charge for the Irish trip to Stade de Frabce a week later.

New Zealand’s Chris Pollock, a reserve referee at Rugby World Cup 2011, will make his RBS Six Nations refereeing debut when he takes charge of Ireland against Scotland at the Aviva on March 10.