Sanzar clips TMOs’ wings

Cape Town — The protocol for the use of the television match officials in this year’s Sanzar and South African competitions will revert to that of 2013.

According to the South Africa Rugby Referees website, this means that in Super Rugby and Currie Cup the TMO is allowed to be consulted for just two things – the act of scoring a try and foul play.

TMO referrals for such things as knock-ons and forward passes in the last two phases when a potential try is the result will fall away. The referee and his two helpers have to deal with that in real time as was the case in the past-seeing and accepting what they see, reacting to the clear and obvious.

The act of scoring a try means the grounding and how it happened:

– If there is doubt about who first grounded the ball, that is a case for the TMO.

– If there is doubt about whether the potential try scorer properly grounded the ball, that is a case for the TMO.

– Whether the ball-carrier is in touch or touch-in-goal or not, that is a case for the TMO.

– Whether the dead-ball line came into play before the grounding of the ball, is a case for the TMO.

Foul play may be revisited wherever it occurs on the field. And the TMO, like the assistant referees, is allowed to take the initiative in suggesting to the referee that foul play has occurred. If it prevented the scoring of a probable try, a penalty try is awarded.

The laws of rugby football, it seems, cannot exist without exceptions and the exceptions in the matter of consulting the TMO exist in the Varsity Cup.

There are generous bonus points for Varsity Cup tries that start in one’s own half or between the half-way and the opponents’ 22. If the referee is unsure where the movement started he is allowed to consult the TMO.

Then there are white cards to be used as challenged in the semi-finals and the final of the Varsity Cup. That, too, will require the help of the TMO.
It is only for Varsity Cup – not for other Varsity competitions or for any other South African matches. Most rugby in South Africa is in any case not televised and so no TMO is available.— Sport24.