CJ Stander says Italian ref for URC a great call: 'No funny penalties will fly around'

Four years ago, Andrea Piardi took a first step to refereeing stardom when he debuted in a PRO14 encounter between Munster and the Southern Kings at Musgrave Park in Cork, a relatively inauspicious occasion that saw a Munster B-team hammer the hapless Eastern Cape franchise 43-0.

On Saturday, the man from Brescia will become the first Italian to take charge of a European rugby final - in this case the URC showpiece match - which will feature the Stormers and, appropriately, selfsame Munster.

Piardi, who is also part of this year's group of officials at the World Cup in France, has certainly bided his time in taking charge of 35 URC and seven EPCR matches previously.

CJ Stander, Munster's SA-born legend who had been on the receiving end of his 'fair' whistle before his retirement, believes the decision could prove to be inspired.  

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"I think it's a great decision. He's officiated in matches I've been involved in before and he's quite fair," the 51-cap Irish international said on a media call for the URC. 

"Being the first Italian to ref a URC final is special, but I suppose one also has to make provision for the possibility that on-field proceedings could go both ways under him."

That, though, is a reservation held by any team against any referee before an occasion of this magnitude, even the most experienced arbiters.

"The pressure won't get to him, of that I'm certain," said Stander.

"He'll get down to business because he's got a big job to do and wants to make his family and himself proud."

Stander also warned the two respective teams that if they were going to ride their luck in certain areas of the game - Bulls mentor Jake White