Owens to ref All Black tie

Nigel Owens will referee Ireland’s Autumn international with New Zealand — 16 months after the chance to claim a first win over the All Blacks was lost on the back of his controversial decision in Christchurch.

The sides were level with four minutes to go in the second Test when Owens awarded a penalty to the Kiwis on the back of a scrum which many felt should have seen a penalty awarded to Declan Kidney’s tourists.

Instead, New Zealand progressed deep into Irish territory before Dan Carter landed a winning drop goal. Owens has not officiated an Irish international since but he will be on duty on November 24 at the Aviva Stadium.

Owens is nevertheless highly rated worldwide and has ample experience of Irish sides.

His performance in Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider between South Africa and New Zealand gained widespread praise. South Africa’s Chris Pollock will take charge for the Guinness Series meeting with Australia at Lansdowne Road eight days earlier, just three months after being dropped from the referees‘ panel for the Super Rugby play-offs.

Pollock, described as a conservative official, officiated the first Lions test against Australia in June but was heavily criticised for his interpretation of both the scrum and breakdown that day.

Steve Walsh, again no stranger to controversy, having been suspended three times by rugby’s officials, has been handed the reins for Joe Schmidt’s first game in charge, against Samoa, on November 9. Walsh, who was suspended for four months in 2005 for verbally abusing Shane Horgan during a game on the Lions tour, refereed the historic first rugby game at Croke Park in 2007 when Ireland lost to France. He also officiated on the fixture between the same countries in this year’s Six Nations