Ref to ref - Joubert to Berdos

Craig Joubert refereed the All Blacks vs France in Wellington last weekend. This weekend he'll be on the line in Hamilton where the All Blacks go up against Canada. Spending the week in Auckland, he is with the young and up-and-coming French referee, Christophe Berdos, who will referee this weekend's match.

Over countless cups of coffee at various cafes in and around Auckland, Joubert gives us an insight into Berdos, touring New Zealand and the build up to a Test Match.

Joubert: Christophe, Good to see you again.

Berdos: Yes, the last time we saw each other was in London in November and that was only for a short time. The wonderful thing about international rugby travel is that you get to catch up with your mates all over the world.

Joubert: When did you arrive in New Zealand?

Berdos: Last Tuesday (i.e. 11 days before the Test Match).

I had an exhausting trip that included flights from Pau (home town) to Paris, Paris to Singapore, Singapore to Sydney and then finally Sydney to Auckland. All in all I travelled for 1? days before I finally got here. The International Rugby Board has a protocol that says that referees travelling from Europe Down under need to arrive 10 days in advance.

Joubert: So what have you been up to?

Berdos: A lot of relaxing but also gym every day. I have been to Auckland before (in 2005 as a touch judge for a Bledisloe Cup Test Match) and so I know my way round the city and I have done some sightseeing and shopping.

I had met Steve Walsh when I went to South Africa on my very 1st IRB appointment three years ago and I look forward to a poker evening at his place tonight even though I don't play poker. It will be good to catch up with him again.

Joubert: We come here often on Super 14 duty and some of us pass the time playing tennis. I know a tennis court just around the corner. You keen for a hit?

Berdos: I don't play tennis.

Joubert: Probably a good thing, Marius Jonker has started calling me "Rafa" (as in Rafael Nadal) because I've been cleaning him up on the tennis court lately!

How about some golf. Walshy and I have a game lined up later this week?

Berdos: Unlike you South Africans and Kiwi's who all seem to play golf, I have never got into it.

Joubert: What is your favourite country to visit?

Berdos: South Africa

Joubert: Good answer! Why?

Berdos: Really like the people and the game parks are amazing.

Joubert: You arrive here having just completed the French Top 14. Tell us about the competition.

Berdos: There is a lot of money and sponsorship in France at the moment. Big-name players like Umaga, Gregan, Montgomery, etc, are either already playing in France or are on their way after the World Cup. Because of this is there a lot of media hype around the competition and the TV coverage is extensive. It makes for a pressurised environment to referee in. Coaches are under lots of pressure and try to transfer some of the pressure of losing to referee decisions.

Joubert: So do you read the newspapers or follow TV rugby magazine shows?

Berdos: Never. I don't want to be influenced by the media and always arrive at a game without preconceived ideas.

Joubert: I see you've got a scar above your eyebrow - not an angry coach I hope!

Berdos: No. I was refereeing a Heineken Cup game when a player accidentally bumped me from behind. As I was falling forward I clashed heads with a player going the opposite direction. I split open my head above the eye and blood was pouring out. My three-year-old daughter was watching on TV and laughed her head off that daddy was bleeding!

Joubert: Moving on to Saturday's Test Match, are you looking forward to it, how many have you done?

Berdos: I'm very happy to be here and can't wait for the Test Match. This will only be my third Test.

Joubert: You've touch judged in New Zealand before and so you've seen the haka up close and personal before. What do you make of it?

Berdos: It gives me goose bumps. I was the TMO when the All Blacks did the "cut throat" haka against the Boks. I have come to understand the meaning behind the haka and the significance of it.

Joubert: It is a special part of rugby tradition, last week in Wellington they did the more traditional "Ka Mate" haka which the whole crowd chanted along to!

After this game you head back to France for a bit of a break before you touch judge at the World Cup?

Berdos: Yes, I have a six-week end-of-season break. The season started in August last year and so I'm looking forward to a break.

Joubert: And then we'll see you in Tignes which I believe is where we're having a team building couple of days for World Cup referees and touch judges prior to Rugby World Cup 2007. Tell me about Tignes?

Berdos: Well firstly you don't pronounce it "Tig Ness" [I'd obviously butchered the French pronunciation in my thick South African accent!] It's " Tin ya"!

By all accounts it should be a great couple of days. It's a ski resort. There's no snow yet as we're going into summer. It is well known for being a destination for VIP's and celebrities. You'll enjoy it as I understand there are some world-class golf courses!

Joubert: Look forward to seeing you there! Good luck for Saturday.

NB

France's Top 14 is the equivalent of the Currie Cup, the Heineken Cup the equivalent of the Super 14.