The referee for the Highlanders match against the Blues on Saturday in Auckland has been changed after Sanzar referees boss Lyndon Bray decided to hold the men in the middle accountable.
One of those to get their marching orders was South African Lourens van der Merwe.
He has been replaced for the match at Eden park on Saturday night by Steve Walsh.
Van der Merwe refereed the match between the Chiefs and the Force at the weekend, which it would be fair to say was a drab affair, with plenty of whistle.
In this new age of referee accountability, Bray has got rid of three officials from the referees panel and is talking of slimming the panel down to a select few who do all the matches and cover the finals.
Also dumped earlier this week was Australian referee James Leckie and Argentinian whistle-blower Francisco Pastrana.
The Highlanders may not have van der Merwe but they will hardly be jumping for joy with the appointment of Walsh.
The Highlanders have never found much success when Walsh was officiating.
In the past 12 games where Walsh has been the man in the middle with the Highlanders playing, the southerners have won only one game. That was last year against the Sharks at Forsyth Barr Stadium, as the Highlanders ended a long losing run.
Last year, Walsh officiated at the match between the Blues and the Highlanders at Eden Park.
That game was marred with then Highlanders second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu yellow carded for a shoulder charge on Blues halfback Piri Weepu.
With Buxton Popoali'i also copping a heavy concussion, the game ran nearly 100 minutes long, with Walsh also halting the game to take numerous looks at television replays.
Pastrana has been replaced by New Zealander Nick Briant for the match between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday night.