Are TMOs a buzzkill?

bilston

Is it getting to the point now where there isn't much point in actually celebrating a try anymore at the point of it being scored? I find myself celebrating a great try thanks to a great piece of skill, only to be forced into an immediate comedown by the bloody TMO. It seems to be happening more and more often.

Yes we are getting the correct decisions, but it is a pretty annoying feeling when you celebrate a great try only for it to be disallowed 2 minutes later on the narrowest of margins by the TMO!

Take the Samoan try that was disallowed yesterday, as I said at the time I wasn't even sure if it was a forward pass or not, but if that pass had been given at any other time in the game other than in the build up to a try the officials wouldn't have thought twice about it.

FortySeven

I love the TMO, lets us know the game is fair. Too often a game was won because of a missed infringement. Used to drive me crazy watching them at half time pointing out the try should never have been.

LeinsterDub

bilston wrote: »

Yes we are getting the correct decisions, but it is a pretty annoying feeling when you celebrate a great try only for it to be disallowed 2 minutes later on the narrowest of margins by the TMO!

So it wasn't a try so.

Pretty sure you'd be happy for the tmo if they legimately disallowed a try against Ireland in the next few weeks.

In saying that there is a tenancy to send everything up stairs now. When you can tell 50 rows up in the stand it was a grand try

matthew8

If it's for a try I want the right decision above all. The annoying thing is the amount of times they've checked "dangerous play" for a pretty mild play that doesn't result in a penalty. If it's not serious (ie looks like it's going to be yellow or worse) I'd just like to get on with the game.

eeguy

I really like the TMO.

Take Zebos try today. He had a foot in touch for a fraction of a second before he caught the ball. Without the TMO that try would have definitely been given.

If that try decided an important match there'd be uproar the day after.

The TMO keeps everything fair and its one of the reasons officiating in rugby is far superior to soccer.

Remember Thierry Henrys hand of God and the weeks of subsequent furore and embarrassment ? Wouldn't have happened with a TMO.

FortySeven

I think the officials have been exemplary so far. Can't believe some of the things they notice in the ruck. Mostly without the TMO. Zebos' try was a case in point today. He blew for a try but I was sure he was in touch, was glad they took it upstairs. It's consistent.

The time factor is an issue but the technology is getting better. Look at the football, Tottenham v Man City had 4 goals offside IIRC. Rubbish.

RedemptionZ

It takes a little getting used to but definitely good for the sport, as only legitimate tries will be scored. My only gripe is when the try is blatantly obvious, I suppose you can never be too safe though.

AbusesToilets

The only thing I dislike about the system is when it fails to spot something that ends up being obvious afterwards, the Italian try against Canada being a good example of that. Other that I think it has been a great addition to the game. I would like to see more camera angles as standard around the goal area.

Steve

I think it's good. Yes there are delays, but that only annoys people who don't get the rules / laws and how important they are to the game.

To compare with soccer, they have a ref. He doesn't see everything, same as Rugby. Nobody, including the players respects the official in soccer.. In rugby we have a Ref, two linesmen, 3rd official and a TMO, nobody questions them, everyone accepts their decision and respects it. That's why I respect and follow the sport.

pickarooney

There's no way they should ever award the try, mark it up on the scoreboard and then take it away again after watching the video. By all means check if you're not sure but don't change your mind.

Teams are still not copping on that when this happens they need to kick the conversion and chance wasting two points to assure the five. In turn this would make TMO hurry up so the crowd could celebrate or get on with it.

I'd b inclined to say that if something is no glaringly obvious from two quick viewings the advantage should be with the attacking team. This frame by frame analysis is against the spirit of the game and undermines the ref completely.

Akrasia

The TMO keeps players honest too. I know cheating can never be fully eliminated, but in soccer, it's a joke the amount of playing the referee, trying to get players sent off, playing for a penalty instead of trying to score themselves. At least the TMO cuts out most of this.

Its interesting that when the players feel hard done by, they call for the ref to go upstairs, instead of just shouting abuse at the ref like they do in other sports.

rrpc

pickarooney wrote: »

There's no way they should ever award the try, mark it up on the scoreboard and then take it away again after watching the video. By all means check if you're not sure but don't change your mind.

Teams are still not copping on that when this happens they need to kick the conversion and chance wasting two points to assure the five. In turn this would make TMO hurry up so the crowd could celebrate or get on with it.

I'd b inclined to say that if something is no glaringly obvious from two quick viewings the advantage should be with the attacking team. This frame by frame analysis is against the spirit of the game and undermines the ref completely.

I don't agree with this. I remember before we had a TMO at all, the amount of tries that were awarded when there was a clear infringement visible on a replay that nothing could be done about. Or a try not awarded because the ref was unsighted and couldn't see the grounding. It happened too many times to be funny.

The only part I'd agree with is the awarding of a try and then dis-awarding it (is that a word? ). The TMO should be in the ref's ear immediately saying that he's checking something and to hold off for a few seconds. But it's a small price to pay for getting a momentous decision right.

And they still miss stuff. When they extended the TMO's remit to a couple of phases before the try is scored, everyone was in support. Let's not forget the Mike Philips try in 2011 that wasn't.