Nigel Owens to referee All Blacks' quarterfinal

Nigel Owens. Photo / Getty Images.

Welsh referee Nigel Owens has been given the marquee quarterfinal assignment between New Zealand and France in the Rugby World Cup.

Owens whistled three matches in the pool stage, including France's 24-9 loss to Ireland last Sunday that dropped the Tricolors into a quarterfinal with the defending champion on Saturday in Cardiff.

Wayne Barnes of England will control the first quarterfinal on Saturday between South Africa and Wales.

Jerome Garces of France, who officiated in major pool games South Africa vs. Japan, England vs. Wales, and Ireland vs. Italy, has the Ireland-Argentina quarterfinal on Sunday.

That's followed by Australia vs. Scotland, which will be whistled by Craig Joubert of South Africa, who sin-binned two Wallabies and a Welshman in their match last Saturday.

The match officials:

Saturday:
South Africa vs. Wales, Twickenham:
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England). Assistants: George Clancy (Ireland), JP Doyle (England). TMO: Graham Hughes (England).

New Zealand vs. France, Millennium Stadium:
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales). Assistants: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), John Lacey (Ireland). TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa).

Sunday:
Ireland vs. Argentina, Millennium Stadium: Referee: Jerome Garces (France). Assistants: Romain Poite (France), Chris Pollock (New Zealand). TMO: George Ayoub (Australia).

Australia vs. Scotland, Twickenham:
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa). Assistants: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Pascal Gauzere (France).

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand).