Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
Saturday’s encounter in Pretoria marked a significant occasion for Aimee Barrett-Theron, who became the first female to hold the whistle in a senior premier match in South Africa.
Barrett-Theron has achieved a number of firsts in her illustrious career being the first female to take charge of a Currie Cup First Division match, SA Rugby U21 and U20 Championship matches, an FNB Varsity Cup game and SA Rugby Under-18 Craven Week match, but this represented her biggest achievement in a senior domestic competition.
Personally, I did not see her a lot, which is definitely a sign of a good referee. The absolute shambles at the lineouts must be attributed to the "linesman" although she was the final judge on the field. The scrums? She did make a few errors but so do all of the other referees. In general not a bad day at the office.
Some comments of our supporters and social media rugby groups regarding her performance:
"Eks is bky hulle bring voulike skeidsregter in rugby.Vrouens is nine een fout wat mans maak nie,enigste prebleem, sy gaan die spelers straf vir foute wat hulle 3 jaar terug gemaak het"
"Sy is baie goed, 1ste hellfte skitterend geblaas!"
"Ja n vrou vergeet om brood te koop toe sy netnou winkel toe was, maar sy onthou jou misstap 18 jaar gelede begaan het, die datum die tyd die plek die works. En die keer toe jy biki vriendelik met n vriendin uit jou laerskooldae onthou sy tot in die tiende geslag. Imagine sy sê vir Etsebeth, " strafskop teen jou vir ongeoorlloofde spel, en sommer n geelkaart want in jou o/20 dae was jy net so geniepsig. Sal dit oor en oor sê, die ding dat vrouens oral ingeforseer word is n polities korrekte speelbal wat in die hel tot stand gekom het."
"As sy kwalifiseer om daar te wees, hoekom nie. Sy het Beter as baie mans geblaas op haar vlak"
"She had a really decent game."
"sy is baie beter as Seconds en vd Westhuizen !!
"
"Kan nie slegter as Peyper of Seconds wees nie !"
"Fantastic news from South Africa! Aimee Barrett - Theron taking in charge of @SuperRugby game 
Congratulations and go well in this new challenge and well deserved opportunity"
"About Aimee Barrett-Theron Has she reffed a SR game thus far, cant recall. What I #DO know she is always touch judge. Give the lady a chance, she reffed u21, she knows her stuff. What sayeth you esteemed jintilmins.
"I am willing to go out on a limb and say she will put the men refs to shame"
"Ek dink sy sal veel minder van 'n ego hê as party van hierdie mannetjies so sien uit om haar in aksie te sien
"
"Ek wil nou nie die dame onnodig kritiseer nie, maar het lanklaas soveel re-set scrums in ‘n game gesien! Vir een of ander rede glo sy ‘n skrum moet stilstaan. Sy was ook gereeld in die pad - of wanneer 9 die bal in skrum wil sit of wanneer 9 om die fringes wou speel.
.....en ek wil jou nie kritiseer nie, maar jy weet zero van rugby refereeing af.
