Referee Luke Pearce stamped his authority on the Harlequins v Saracens match this afternoon in a particularly unorthodox manner.
In the closing stages, Pearce - who will referee Wales v Italy next weekend - appeared to replace Saracens' back-rower Jackson Wray as the team's captain for the final stages.
Saracens' first game since their relegation from England's top flight was confirmed proved to be a terrible end to a terrible week for the club.
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They were losing 41-14 at the The Stoop when Pearce called Quins skipper Chris Robshaw and Wray together to discuss an infringement.
"It's your penalty at the moment but are you willing to work with me?" Pearce asked Wray.
"I am but have you had a word with them," responded Wray before Pearce called a meeting between the two captains.
Already growing tired of the way Wray was speaking to him, Pearce's patience snapped when the 29-year-old spoke over him to have a pop at Robshaw.
At that moment, bizarrely, Pearce directed him away from the conversation.
"Okay, so Jackson, you just go back a second," said Pearce, ushering him away.
The official then called over 19-year-old fly-half Manu Vunipola.
"Jackson is refusing to work with us, that's his choice," said Pearce, shrugging his shoulders.
"You're now captain, I'm going to work with you for the last two minutes. It's your penalty."
It is unclear whether or not the laws of the game allow a referee to take such action and it certainly caught experienced commentator Nick Mullins by surprise.
"Well, I'm not sure I've ever seen that before," he exclaimed.
"Luke Pearce has clearly decided that the relationship that he has been developing with Jackson Wray over the course of this match is now unworkable."
