KEY POINTS:
The man in the middle faces his toughest test at Eden Park tonight as he enters the cauldron of an All Blacks vs Wallabies match.
Welshman Nigel Owens is relatively inexperienced, having held the whistle for only five internationals, including Japan against Ireland and England versus Italy in
the Six Nations.
But those matches are unlikely to compare with the atmosphere of tonight's crucial Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations decider.
The 35-year-old declined an interview as he was unable to clear it with his International Rugby Board bosses yesterday. "I don't want it to be my first and last [Tri-Nations]," he said.
But there is every chance his colourful and unconventional background will stand him in good stead for a match sure to be awash with controversy.
In his spare time, Owens - a professional referee for five years - is a stand-up comedian and singer. He is a regular on television in Wales too. He is also the game's only openly gay professional referee.
Owens told a Welsh newspaper earlier this year he had contemplated suicide while struggling with his sexuality.
But the support of his family - and his sense of humour - got him through. "I might get someone shout something about me being a 'bent ref' but they usually realise what they've said and go 'Oh sorry Nige, didn't mean it like that'," he said.
He also spoke of the difficulty of being homosexual in a sport with such macho traditions. "It's such a big taboo to be gay in my line of work I had to think hard about it [coming out] because I didn't want to jeopardise my career."
It seems that decision has done nothing to hinder his career with Owens selected as the only Welsh referee for the World Cup in France in September.
But before that he faces his biggest challenge so far in his refereeing life tonight. In an interview with Super14.com, he said he was relishing the thought. "There will be pressure to perform and I'll be thinking during the anthems 'This is what it's all about, I'm going to enjoy every moment'."
The experience in stand-up comedy could come in useful in a fixture where tempers are bound to flare up. Refereeing at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2005, Owens told an argumentative Argentinian player: "You have two ears and one mouth - use them in proportion."
And if the occasion threatens to overwhelm him tonight, the Herald has some advice - watch for Aussie backs offside.
