This is going to be a very short post. I know of the plans to revise the role played in rugby matches by the Television Match Official (TMO) but something needs to be done immediately, and swiftly, to prevent what happened last night at Mr Price King’s Park happening again.
It is time that TMOs were given full assistant referee status, with the ability to blow the whistle and call infringements anywhere on the field of play to the referee’s notice in exactly the same way that assistant referees can. And if I were a professional rugby player, I would be prepared to go on strike until such time that this is passed into law.
Having a fourth match official able to identify and penalise infringements will not slow the game down any more than a call from an assistant referee does. What it will do is make the game fairer, make players and fans happier, and stop players taking chances when refs aren’t looking. TV cameras see much more than field refs ever will and should be used to improve the game.
The Stormers lost by 12 points. Not five. And didn’t score a bonus point. There should be a system in place to stop this happening. And to rectify the mistakes when they do happen. It’s THAT simple.
There are player’s unions for a reason, boys and girls.
So who’s ready to toyi-toyi?