Watch your tackles and keep your discipline should be reminded time and again to the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians in today’s crucial Rugby World Cup clash against Uruguay in Kamaishi.

The reason is that French national Pascal Gauzere is going to be the referee. According to World Rugby for the past four years, he had topped the Elite Referee’s Test Record Table (on the number of cards issued. From the 11 Test matches Gauzere controlled, he has issued 4 Red Cards and 16 Yellow Cards.

Gauzere has done so on four occasions since the start of 2016– England’s Elliot Daly and Argentina prop Enrique Pieretto on the same afternoon at Twickenham followed by another Puma, Tomas Lavanini, and Australia’s veteran tighthead prop Sekope Kepu in separate matches.

A shoulder charge to Hamish Watson’s head at Murrayfield in November 2017 ensured Kepu his early bath.

What coaches say: “We all thought that was the law — so maybe the yellow card should have gone to the referee. We had to cope with whatever he decided was right.

“And if he wants a variation of the law, we’ve got to be good enough to cope. You’re not allowed to comment on referees now. World Rugby are like Big Brother — they have facial recognition everywhere — you say one word and you’re in trouble.” – An angry England coach Eddie Jones in August after Gauzere awarded Wales a try, which was claimed not to be within the rugby laws.

Experience: He has officiated at the highest level since starting in 2006, refereeing matches in the club tournament: Top 14, Pro12, Challenge Cup and Heineken Cup. He made his international refereeing debut in 2009, when he refereed the match between Tonga under-20s and Wales under-20s in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.

He was once again on the IRB panel for the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship, refereeing several matches including the final between Australia under-20s and New Zealand under-20s.

In late 2010, Gaüzère made his debut at the professional level, touch judging and refereeing in four matches in the 2010 end-of-year rugby union tests.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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