Super Rugby finals: Brumbies coach Steve Larkham happy with appointment of Jaco Peyper

FAR from questioning a home town referee for their Super Rugby final, Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has nothing but praise for match official Jaco Peyper

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 13: Stephen Moore of the Brumbies speaks to the referee Jaco Peyper during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

FAR from questioning a home town referee for their Super Rugby final, Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has joined Stormers rival Alistair Coetzee in praising South African official Jaco Peyper ahead of their clash in Cape Town on Sunday morning.

Peyper has found himself tangled up in a war of words between the two sides in the lead-up to their qualifying final — but not for his nationality.

Though SANZAR abandoned neutral referees several seasons ago, many have questioned why the policy is not still applied to finals.

But Larkham said yesterday he had no issue with Peyper calling the shots at Newlands.

“He’s a very consistent referee and we’re happy with the appointment,” Larkham said in Cape Town.

Jaco Peyper and Stephen Moore exchange words. Peyper will be in charge of the Super Rugby final between the Brumbies and Stormers.

“We had him last weekend and he did a pretty good job, and we had him in South Africa against the Lions and he did a pretty good job.”

Asked in jest by local media if a South African can ever be neutral, Larkham said: “Just as much as an Australian is neutral when he referees an Australian side.”

Larkham’s compliments were undoubtedly strategic in the wake of Coetzee putting the heat on Peyper earlier in the week to crack down on the Brumbies for “off the ball” foul play.

The Stormers coach blew up about the Brumbies tactics in their 25-24 win over the ACT side last month, which Coetzee also complained was ground down cynically to “stop-start” affair by the Brumbies.

​“They were happy and prepared to concede penalties to make sure we couldn’t get quick ball‚” Coetzee said after the Stormers’ win.

“They conceded 19 penalties and they didn’t get a yellow card? They played our players off the ball. There were a lot of incidents at the breakdown that I was unhappy about.”

Coetzee said this week he was confident Peyper would hold the Brumbies to account.

David Pocock is on course to play the Stormers.

​“Jaco is not scared to make big calls and you know where you stand with him‚” Coetzee said. “The Brumbies have line speed and they attack the breakdown. If it’s legal then we have no problem with it but if they transgress then they should be penalised.

“There was a lot of off-the-ball stuff in the last game and hopefully if that happens again the officials will deal with it. We won’t get drawn into that‚ if they try it again.”

Asked about the ill-tempered match, Larkham explained it was out of character but also indicated that the Brumbies would not be pushovers in the final.

“That was a one-off circumstance for us this year. Traditionally we are not a side that niggles off the ball,” Larkham said.

“What we saw in that game there were a few blow-ups after the whistle and the boys didn’t take a backward step. It wasn’t something we spoke about before the game and both teams reacted the same way. Coming back to that physicality, the game was played Test match intensity and that’s what you’d expect (this weekend): both sides won’t take a backward step.”

The Stormers copped a double blow this week with powerful no. 8 Duane Vermuelen pulling out of the qualifying final injured, and also announcing he’d signed with Toulon for next year.

The Brumbies have better news, with Larkham saying David Pocock (concussion) and Matt Toomua (ankle) were both on course to play.

Matt Toomua is also expected to return against the Stormers. Pic Brett Costello

With the Stormers at home and having rested all-but one of their starting XV last weekend, the Brumbies are outsiders. But Larkham said despite being the lowest ranked finalists, their motivation and form levels are high.

​”It’s been a long season for us, and we have had four games that we lost by three points or less. Had we won those four games we would be comfortably second on the log, so we feel we have some unfinished business​,” he said. ​

​Coetzee may not like it but with sudden-death status attached, Larkham added the Brumbies would play whatever style and pace is required to win.

​”Playoffs footy is about percentages​,” Larkham said. ​

​”Making sure you defend really well and you kick your penalties, they’re the two main things. Good defence and take your opportunities at the posts, when you can. ​”​

Originally published as Super Rugby finals: Brumbies coach Steve Larkham happy with appointment of Jaco Peyper