English referee Wayne Barnes can raise the ire of All Blacks fans once again, after his appointment to officiate the end-of-year test against France in Paris.
Barnes, 42, will take charge of the All Blacks' final test of 2021, when they face 'Les Bleus' on November 21.
The appointment may touch a nerve for Kiwi supporters, with Barnes famously presiding over the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between the two teams at Cardiff, where France condemned the All Blacks to their earliest-ever exit from the tournament with a 20-18 win.
Barnes came under intense scrutiny from the New Zealand public for his officiating in that match, when he failed to call a forward pass in the lead-up to Yannick Jauzion's winning try, as well as controversially sending Luke McAlister to the sin bin.
Since that test, Barnes has twice officiated All Blacks v France clashes, with New Zealand winning both.
In 2013, the All Blacks defeated France 23-13 under Barnes and repeated that result three years later, winning 24-19.
Before facing France, the All Blacks will also take on US Eagles, Wales, Italy and Ireland, before finishing their end-of-year tour in Paris.
Join Newshub for live updates of the All Blacks v USA Eagles from 8:30am, October 24
