Kiwi Glen Jackson will take charge of the Brumbies' Super Rugby semi-final qualifier against the Cheetahs on Sunday © Getty Images

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New Zealand referee Chris Pollock has been dropped for the Super Rugby semi-final qualifiers this weekend after his handling of the Chiefs win over the Blues last Saturday was roundly criticised. He was already in the spotlight after being slammed for his officiating in the first Lions Test last month.

South African Jaco Peyper will be the man in the middle for the Crusaders clash with the Reds in Christchurch on Saturday and New Zealander Glen Jackson will referee the Brumbies date with the Cheetahs in Canberra on Sunday. The South African duo of Craig Joubert and Jonathan Kaplan and Australia-based Kiwi Steve Walsh are also likely to come into consideration for the semi-finals and the final.

"Chris has missed out but it's not just Saturday night, but that obviously has a significant part to play in the decision, but I think Chris has had a pretty tough month," SANZAR referees' boss Lyndon Bray told ONE Sport. "The form is one aspect to it, as we look at current form and obviously confidence levels, what sort of form you're carrying into big match rugby, like finals.

"And secondly we do also consider the experience, (and) track record of a referee, just as you would with a player in that context. We took all of that into account in determining where does he sit against the other four."

Pollock may miss out on an appointment as the Super Rugby competition builds to a climax but he is in line to take charge of the Rugby Championhip clash between South Africa and Argentina next month.

"The best thing for Chris is to get over the last month," said Bray. "He had the big Lions experience of course, [going] into this particular game [Blues v Chiefs]. The job now for us and for Chris is to get him back into a really good space and back into really good form for the rest of this season."

Super Rugby Qualifier A
Saturday, 20 July, 2013
Crusaders v Reds
AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
Kick-off (1935 local, 1735 NSW/ACT, 0935 SAT, 0735 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
AR1: Garratt Williamson
AR2: Mike Fraser
TMO: Vinny Munro

Super Rugby Qualifier B
Sunday, 21 July, 2013
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia
Kick-off (1610 local, 1810 NZT, 0810 SAT, 0610 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson
AR1: Rohan Hoffmann
AR2: James Leckie
TMO: Matt Goddard