New Zealand selector Grant Fox has claimed that Nigel Owens will referee next weekend's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.
The Welsh official, who was overlooked for the two semi-final games, is among the favourites to be given the nod for rugby union's biggest occasion.
No appointment will be officially made by World Rugby until Tuesday, but Fox is confident that Owens will take charge of the showpiece final.
Speaking to New Zealand's Newstalk ZB, the former All Blacks fly-half said: "Nigel is clearly the best referee in the world - he's demonstrated that. We knew before the South Africa game that he had that job should we get the opportunity to play in [the final].
"One of the key things he does, apart from communicating incredibly well with players, is that he lets the breakdown breathe, and that is really important.
"If you want to get a good contest and spectacle, you have got to let the breakdown breathe a little bit, and he is really, really good at that."
Englishman Ed Morrison was appointed to the 1995 final between South Africa and New Zealand, while Ireland's Alain Rolland officiated England against South Africa 12 years later.
