Kaplan to ref Ireland's quarter-final clash with France

Ireland’s quarter-final appointment with France in Melbourne on Sunday will be controlled by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan.

Kaplan was in charge of Ireland's 45-17 mauling of Romania just over three weeks ago.

Irish referee Alain Rolland will take charge of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Wales at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday.

The Dublin-based mortgage broker, who played for Ireland and Leinster, refereed his first Test match only two years ago.

Rolland was in the middle for three World Cup pool games – France versus Fiji, Georgia against Samoa and Canada’s appointment with Tonga. His touch-judges next weekend will be Irish colleague David McHugh and French official Joel Jutge.

New Zealand’s Steve Walsh, meanwhile, is back in the World Cup picture following his one-match suspension.

Walsh was involved in a post-match altercation with England fitness adviser Dave Reddin after the Six Nations champions beat Samoa in Melbourne last month.

A misconduct complaint against Reddin was dismissed, but Walsh collected a one-game punishment for what World Cup chiefs termed “inappropriate behaviour”.

Walsh will be the man in the middle for Scotland’s quarter-final against world champions Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

England’s Tony Spreadbury has been awarded the plum tie – New Zealand versus South Africa – in Melbourne on Saturday.

West Country-based Spreadbury, 41, has taken charge of more than 20 Tests - and his first international was a 1990 clash between Australia and France.

Quarter-final appointments: South Africa v New Zealand (Melbourne, Saturday) - Referee, Tony Spreadbury (England); Touch-judges – Peter Marshall and Andrew Cole (both Australia).

Australia v Scotland (Brisbane, Saturday) – Referee, Steve Walsh (New Zealand); Touch-judges – Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand) and Andre Watson (South Africa).

France v Ireland (Melbourne, Sunday) – Referee, Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa); Touch-judges – Chris White (England) and Nigel Williams (Wales).

England v Wales (Brisbane, Sunday) – Referee, Alain Rolland (Ireland); Touch-judges, David McHugh (Ireland) and Joel Jutge (France).