Another twist has been added to the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Ireland this Sunday with English official Wayne Barnes named to referee the clash.
World Rugby officials announced the referee appointments overnight for this weekend's knockout action with the All Blacks co-incidentally drawing Barnes once more for quarter-final where the World Cup is being hosted by France.
The last time that happened 16 years ago, Barnes became public enemy No.1 for New Zealand rugby fans after he missed a forward pass in the run-up to one of France's crucial tries in their stunning 2007 upset of the All Blacks.
In fact, the animosity towards Barnes was so intense he was once voted the third most hated man in New Zealand after Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
But All Blacks fans have mellowed to the 44-year-old lawyer since.
It does add another layer to this weekend's Test though, with Barnes also, coincidentally, in charge in Wellington last year when Ireland clinched their first-ever series win in New Zealand.
It will be a record fourth quarter-final for Barnes.
Meanwhile, Kiwi ref Ben O'Keeffe has been named for the other blockbuster quarter-final in Paris this weekend between hosts France and world champions South Africa.
O'Keeffe's appointment comes despite a tough year for the official, having pushed through abuse and threats from Kiwi fans that "crossed the line" earlier this year after the Super Rugby Final he presided over. He also drew criticism last month during the World Cup pool clash between Ireland and the Springboks.
Elsewhere, French official Mathieu Raynal will take charge of England's quarter-final against Fiji in Marseille, while Jaco Peyper will hold the whistle in the other last-eight clash in the southern city, Wales against Argentina.
Peyper was not considered for appointment to the semi-finals at the last World Cup after a picture appeared online of him posing with Welsh fans after he had refereed a quarter-final between Wales and France.
The South African had sent off Sebastien Vahaamahina for elbowing Aaron Wainwright in the face during the match, which Wales won 20-19, and appeared to be mimicking the French lock's offence in the picture.
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