Australia vs Lions referee: Who is first Test official Ben O'Keeffe?
Born in Blenheim on New Zealand's South Island, O'Keeffe started refereeing at the age of 19 and stepped up into the professional ranks five years later.
He was elevated to a first international fixture in 2015 as an assistant, before a refereeing debut in June 2016 overseeing a draw between Samoa and Japan.
A regular recipient of the New Zealand referee of the year award, O'Keeffe was selected to take charge of the second Lions test in South Africa in 2021, before making the 12-strong list of referees for the 2023 World Cup.
The 36-year-old was appointed to a quarter-final and semi-final at the tournament. O'Keeffe's performance in the last eight was criticised by beaten French captain Antoine Dupont, but the Kiwi responded well and took charge of England's narrow defeat to South Africa in the semi-final at the Stade de France a week later.
A qualified ophthalmologist, O'Keeffe's brother Michael represented New Zealand at the London Olympics and is now a sports reporter.
He is highly-regarded by World Rugby and can count on strong support at Suncorp Stadium, with the Kiwi assisted by Nika Amashukeli and Andrea Piardi - the referees for the second and third Tests in the series.
Compatriot Richard Kelly is on hand as the television match official to aid O'Keeffe if required.
First Test match officials
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Scotland's Gregor Brown called up by Lions as cover for Joe McCarthy
Scotland second row Gregor Brown has been called up to the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia amid concerns over the fitness of Joe McCarthy. Brown joins Andy Farrell's squad in Melbourne on Sunday to provide cover for Tuesday's final midweek match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV, which is sandwiched by the first and second Tests. McCarthy left the field in the 44th minute of Saturday's 27-19 victory over the Wallabies because of a foot issue that makes him a doubt for the Lions' shot at clinching the series in the looming rematch at Melbourne Cricket Ground. 'It was niggling away at Joe. We got him off. Hopefully we got him off in time,' said head coach Farrell, who revealed that the Ireland enforcer is struggling with plantar fasciitis. Brown joins Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman in leaving Scotland's tour of New Zealand to link up with the Lions. All three of them started Friday's 41-12 victory over Samoa in Auckland. The 24-year-old has won nine caps since making his debut against Canada last year and featured throughout the recent Six Nations. Farrell is entering his most challenging week of the tour as he balances preparation for a potentially tricky fixture against the First Nations and Pasifika XV with the greater need of Saturday's second Test. By increasing the size of his squad to 45 players, he is attempting to prevent as few players as possible from backing up on Tuesday and Saturday while also ensuring his Test team are given an uninterrupted build up to the MCG showdown. The Lions have won all six of their games Down Under so far and are determined to see their 100 per cent record maintained in Melbourne, but being confronted with a match at such a critical juncture of the tour presents all manner of headaches. Farrell is embracing a fixture that was organised when original opponents Melbourne Rebels went into administration and even now refuses to separate his touring party into 'dirt trackers' and the Test team. 'We care about the squad and nothing but the squad. That's how it's been the whole time. We've never separated once. We've been all in everything together,' Farrell said. 'We'll name a side internally just before dinner on Sunday and then everyone will roll in on Monday to make sure that team, in an extended captain's run like we've been doing over the past four of five weeks, has as good a preparation as we've had all tour. It matters to us on Tuesday night as a group.' Finn Russell left the field early in the dominant victory at Suncorp Stadium but was suffering with cramp only. Garry Ringrose (concussion), Mack Hansen (foot), Blair Kinghorn (knee) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (concussion) face fitness checks as they look to be involved in the penultimate week of the tour.
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
How the Lions' half backs seized control of Test series against Australia
There was a perhaps telling line uttered by Andy Farrell about eight minutes into his post-match press conference after the British and Irish Lions ' first Test win in Brisbane. The Lions boss had bounded through the bowels of Suncorp Stadium, scribbling a few thoughts in a notebook as he emerged to face the assembled media and then scolding those who had questioned the selection of Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry. 'I'd read all of that,' he said, with an air of a parent chiding a naïve child accompanied with an 'I told you so' grin. 'It was quite interesting, wasn't it?' Certainly, in that selection, Farrell had been vindicated but there were to be no hubristic declarations otherwise. Part of the reason that he has excelled as a leader in both codes is the manner in which he measures his utterings both public and private. While talking up the Lions' first-half performance, Farrell underscored how unacceptable their second-half drop-off had been; while making clear that his side would celebrate first Test victory, already there were plenty of forward-looking hints to next week. They will need to be better with the Wallabies likely to lift their level at the MCG. But the aforementioned quote in question came when the Lions head coach had been given licence to gush. All and sundry have already extolled the virtues of Finn Russell on this tour and the fly half had been close to faultless on Saturday night, continuing to take ownership of a trip upon which he may yet emerge as the lead character. Russell had got the Lions' attack to hum, been immaculate from the tee and laid a try on a plate for roommate Sione Tuipulotu with a pass that the Scottish centre would later compare to the one carved to Huw Jones against England in 2018 – albeit without quite as much daring. Yet it was not any moments of flash that Farrell sought to spotlight. Bracketing both Russell and the equally effective Jamison Gibson-Park, it was the art of abstention that he wished to praise. 'They didn't get bored of doing the right thing,' Farrell explained of his half-backs. 'I thought the combination of the two of them together, Jamison and Finn, really controlled the game.' There had been debate about most positions in the Lions side but the starting nine and 10 never felt a matter for discussion. Now, clearly, this is no vintage Australian side that Gibson-Park and Russell dragged this way and that, but the manner in which they exuded calm and control was nonetheless impressive. Too often on this trip the tourists had been scatty and scratchy, but in the heat of first Test battle, their half-backs had cool heads. 'You could see the difference in our game,' Farrell explained. 'The hardest part about any team coming together is gelling in attack because it takes a lot of cohesion for that to happen. We are trying to find out about ourselves in that regard, but as far as the game control and how you play Test matches that's something we've always been working on in the background and conscious of. That's a given, really, for Test match rugby.' Despite the presence of 144-cap prop James Slipper, there was a vast difference in cap count and experience within each side, and there were times where it showed. Gibson-Park box kicking superbly to give his chasers the chance to win contestables, while the Wallabies conversely struggled to create opportunities to use their own aerial acumen – even if Max Jorgensen's opportunistic try came from exactly that sort of situation. Tom Lynagh – who will be better for the experience and did not look overawed – could not really swing the territorial battle, while his line kicking looked shallow, preventing Australia from taking chunks of ground when the Lions infringed. It helped both of the Lions halfbacks that they were playing behind a pack decisively winning the physical battle, but their playing of the percentages meant that it never felt like Australia had a route back into the game even when the visitors squandered their attacking opportunities. Kick metres have, traditionally, been an indicator of Test success over the past few years – while some analysts question causation given teams protecting a lead will naturally put boot to ball more often, the Lions were able to pin Australia in. It took until into the second half for Tom Wright, a livewire counter-attacking mind, to even have a chance to venture one of his trademark raids from deep – and even then the Wallabies full-back was quickly corralled. Off the back of their territorial dominance, Gibson-Park, Russell and the rest could go to work in the first 60 minutes. As Farrell effused: 'When they were able to show the best of themselves, and we know what they've got in their locker as far as their points of difference, it came out every now and then. That's the brilliance of the two.' Of concern for the Lions boss will be that second half drop-off. Maro Itoje, the Lions captain, felt his side lost their discipline rather than grew at all complacent but there felt to be a collective easing in intensity, as can occur in a game where a lead has been swollen. The departure of Russell, cramping, 15 minutes from the end saw the Lions lose structure slightly; Marcus Smith sparked briefly in attack but has had so little time at 10 on tour. There will be a temptation to look at Fin Smith or, perhaps more likely, Owen Farrell in the 22 shirt in the second Test if Blair Kinghorn or Mack Hansen are back to provide full-back cover. While Russell will be good to go next week, the departure of a limping Joe McCarthy after an attack of plantar fasciitis may be a greater worry. 'It was niggling away at him there. Hopefully we got him off in time,' Farrell said without total confidence. It is one of a few nagging concerns for the Lions boss but his side are now in control of the series.
Reuters
17 minutes ago
- Reuters
Beale captains First Nations & Pasifika XV against Lions
BRISBANE, July 20 (Reuters) - Kurtley Beale will get his chance to face the British & Irish Lions on a second tour after being named captain of the First Nations & Pasifika XV team for Tuesday's clash in Melbourne. The 95-cap flyhalf, who famously slipped while taking a potentially match-winning penalty in the first test against the Lions in 2013, was robbed of the chance of facing the tourists for Western Force last month by a hamstring injury. The 36-year-old, one of only 15 indigenous Australians to have represented the Wallabies, has recovered sufficiently to lead a strong backline at Dockland's Stadium. "Kurtley is the most experienced player in the squad and was the natural selection for captain," coach Toutai Kefu said in a news release. "He is an extremely talented footballer and has been there and done it on the big stage." Beale is one of six indigenous players in the line-up with the rest of the matchday squad made up of players with Pacific islands heritage. Tongan-born prop Taniela Tupou and Fijian-born winger Filipo Daugunu were released from the Wallabies squad for the match and will have a chance to show coach Joe Schmidt that they should be in the reckoning for the second and third tests. Tuaina Taii Tualima, Charlie Gamble and Seru Uru make up a formidable back row, while former Wallabies Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Darcy Swain will feel they have a point to prove to Schmidt when they link up in the second row. Former Australia loose forward Pete Samu was prevented from playing by Lions management because he did not fulfil the stipulation in the tour agreement that all players should have featured in Super Rugby this season. Kefu, who helped the Wallabies beat the Lions 2-1 in the 2001 test series, nonetheless felt he had selected a side that could hand the tourists their first defeat in Australia on this tour. "The team has a really nice feel to it, with a blend of not only youth and experience, but also cultures," the World Cup winner said. "The Lions have shown how strong they are on this tour. No matter who plays, they will be very hard to beat, but we're not here to make up the numbers. "We want to win this game and make history." The Lions, who beat Australia in the first test in Brisbane on Saturday, will name their team on Monday. Team: 15–Andy Muirhead, 14–Triston Reilly, 13–Lalakai Foketi, 12–David Feliuai, 11–Filipo Daugunu, 10–Kurtley Beale, 9–Kalani Thomas, 8–Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7–Charlie Gamble, 6–Seru Uru, 5–Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4–Darcy Swain, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1–Lington Ieli Replacements: 16–Richie Asiata, 17–Marley Pearce, 18–Mesake Doge, 19–Mesake Vocevoce, 20–Rob Leota, 21–Harrison Goddard, 22–Jack Debreczeni, 23–Jarrah McLeod
