After Ireland lost to New Zealand in November there was outcry from Ireland fans at New Zealand's heavy-hitting (some would say dangerous) display. Many thought that referee Jaco Peyper had failed to properly manage the game and protect players from injury.
This continued on from Ireland's Six Nations game against France earlier in the year, which Peyper also refereed, where Ireland fans were left infuriated by French 'targeting' of key men like Jonathan Sexton.
After the New Zealand game, Joe Schmidt came as close as he ever would to saying a referee had a stinker when he said there were things "for the referee to look back at, and I’d certainly encourage the referee organiser to look back at them".
So the Irish players who hope to make the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand this summer will be delighted to hear that Peyper will referee the first test of that tour on June 24th (Jerome Garces and Romain Poite will take charge of the other games). Peyper will also take charge of the Lions' match against the New Zealand Maori on June 17th.
In front of a hostile home crowd, will Peyper be able to exert control and protect the players on the pitch a bit better than he did a few months ago?
