Renowned former referee Nigel Owens has revealed Ellis Park as the best stadium he officiated at, and “the scene of the greatest game” he ever called.

The Boks went into the final fixture of the 2013 Rugby Championship in Johannesburg needing a bonus-point victory, while also denying New Zealand any points, in order to claim the title.

Bok skipper Jean de Villiers gave the hosts hope when he flattened Beauden Barrett on his way to the tryline for the bonus point, but the Kiwis would go on to seal a 38-27 victory, with Kieran Read named Man of the Match.

Owens, writing for Walesonline.co.uk, said the 65-point thriller between the Boks and All Blacks was “the scene of the greatest game I ever refereed … many say it’s the greatest game they’ve ever seen too”.

CLASSIC CLASHES: Beauden breaks Bok hearts in Ellis Park epic

“The atmosphere that day was just something to behold,” the Welshman, who would only referee a Test at Ellis Park once, writes. “The game itself was just unbelievable and played at such a pace, without a doubt the best I ever refereed.

“The All Blacks won 38-27, there were nine tries, and some of them were stunning. The crowd really got into the game, as they always do in South Africa, and it made for a truly special memory.

“The ground itself is not in a great place, but there is so much history there with the 1995 World Cup final being played there.

“They did the same in 2013 as they did in 1995 as well, when they flew this massive jumbo jet over the stadium. I was out on the field warming up, and it was so low you thought it was going to clip the top of the stand.

“I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow, what an occasion this is’. The supporters were incredible and it is just one of the great rugby venues anywhere in the world.”

MORE: All Blacks gain ground on Boks

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images