Former referee André Watson has given a scathing indictment on the “annoying” use of television match assistance, saying it undermines the on-field officials.
His comments follow Andrea Piardi having to use a cellphone to reach his TMO in the Wallabies’ win over the Springboks in Perth last week, a lapse Steve Hansen and Nick Mallett slammed.
Hansen has since urged World Rugby to improve referee transparency.
“If I become minister of sport, I will ban the TMO. It has no place in rugby,” Watson told Rapport.
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“It undermines the referee’s sharpness, because he relies on the guy up there.
“It was originally introduced to deal with what the human eye cannot see, but what we see these days is that the guy up there in the box is blowing the game.
“I think it’s annoying for the spectators and it’s annoying for the players, even if they just accept it.”
On the scenes Down Under, he added: “A guy has to make a plan to talk to the guy up there. Whether it’s with a radio, with cellphones, sign language or whatever.”
Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images
The post Watson: TMO has no place in rugby appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former referee André Watson has given a scathing indictment on the “annoying” use of television match assistance, saying it undermines the on-field officials.
The post Watson: TMO has no place in rugby appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
