Andrew Brace divided opinion during Scotland's 43-21 defeat to New Zealand at Murrayfield.
Former England fly-half Andy Goode was among those impressed by the referee.
The Irish official was at the centre of several talking points during Saturday's Nations Championship clash.
He handed out three yellow cards, faced questions over a missed high tackle and even got caught up in a rather funny incident.
While Goode hailed him as one of the world's best, some Scotland fans were far less impressed.
Here's how RUCK graded his performance.
Yellow cards dominate the contest
Brace certainly wasn't afraid to reach for his pocket.
New Zealand forwards Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi were both sent to the sin-bin during the opening 40 minutes.
Lakai was punished following a string of infringements, before Sititi followed him after another offside offence.
For a brief period, the All Blacks were reduced to just 13 players.
Brace also warned New Zealand captain Codie Taylor that further infringements could bring more punishment.
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was then shown yellow early in the second half following repeated team infringements.
The referee's firm approach earned praise from South African rugby commentator Leighton Koopman.
Writing on X, Koopman said:
"Lovely this by Andy Brace. Defending teams can't get away with those things at the tackle area. Love that he is going straight to the pocket"
It was arguably one of Brace's strongest qualities. He was prepared to punish both teams rather than let repeated infringements go unchallenged.
Scotland fans question missed high tackle
However, one incident in particular raised questions about the officiating.
Scotland centre Huw Jones thought he had scored during a frantic first-half spell, only for replays to show he had been held up short of the line.
But there was another talking point.
The official Scottish Rugby match report highlighted what it described as a blatant high tackle on Jones that had escaped the attention of the match officials.
The incident was particularly frustrating given that the footage had been reviewed to determine whether Jones had grounded the ball.
Although the responsibility was shared across the officiating team, it was a significant moment that deserved closer scrutiny.
Brace's strict interpretation of the laws also attracted criticism.
Writing for The Offside Line, Alasdair Reid praised Brace's ability and willingness to acknowledge mistakes, but questioned whether his approach had become too pedantic.
There was a feeling that the contest might have benefited from being allowed to flow more freely.
Scotland supporters left frustrated
Several Scotland supporters also took to social media to express their frustration.
One wrote:
"Andrew Brace the new villain in Scotland"
Another claimed Brace had refereed the two teams differently, making an already difficult afternoon even harder for Gregor Townsend's side.
However, the penalty count told a more complicated story.
Scotland conceded the opening five penalties of the match, but New Zealand had overtaken them in that department before half-time.
The All Blacks also received two yellow cards before Scotland were shown their first.
And while the officials faced questions, Scotland could hardly blame Brace for everything.
The hosts failed to score a single point after the break as New Zealand ran away with the contest.
Andy Goode delivers huge praise
Despite the criticism, former England international Andy Goode was hugely impressed.
Writing on X, the former Leicester Tigers and Worcester Warriors fly-half declared:
"Andy Brace showing he’s top 3 best refs in the world"
It was quite the endorsement given the frustration coming from sections of the Scottish support.
Goode clearly appreciated Brace's decisive approach, particularly his willingness to punish infringements.
His assessment also highlighted just how differently the same refereeing performance can be viewed.
Andrew Brace's unexpected cameo
There was also a rather amusing moment involving Brace himself.
The referee found himself caught up in the action, appearing to make a tackle on a Scotland player as he attempted to get out of the way.
It was the sort of accidental involvement every referee hopes to avoid.
Thankfully for Brace, the TMO wasn't interested in reviewing his tackling technique.
The incident provided some welcome comic relief during an otherwise fiercely contested afternoon at Murrayfield.
Andrew Brace graded: C+
Brace deserves credit for his willingness to make difficult decisions.
His firm approach to repeated infringements was commendable, while his authority helped him maintain control of a physical encounter.
Three yellow cards demonstrated that he was prepared to take action against both teams.
However, the potentially missed high tackle on Huw Jones was a significant concern, even if responsibility extended beyond the referee himself.
Questions over the flow of the contest also prevent him from earning a higher mark.
Goode might have him among the world's top three referees, but not everyone at Murrayfield would agree.
RUCK GRADE: C+ – Above average
Plenty of authority, some questionable moments and one accidental tackle he won't be adding to his highlights reel.
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