OFFICIALS AT RUGBY WORLD CUP, 2023 ANOTHER FAILURE!!

OFFICIALS AT RUGBY WORLD CUP, 2023 ANOTHER FAILURE!!

The All Blacks have another incident to add to their ‘what-if’ file after their 12-11 loss to South Africa in the final.

World Rugby has privately acknowledged to the All Blacks that the ruling out of Aaron Smith’s try in the final was in fact outside the rules, but is refusing to publicly acknowledge that. Smith’s disallowed try occurred in the 54th minute of the tense final at the Stade de France in Paris, following a brilliant break by Richie Mo’unga.

It was called back when TMO, Tom Foley spotted a knock-on at a lineout, and referee Wayne Barnes then disallowed the try.

However, the knock-on happened four phases before the Smith try, despite the TMO only having the power to look back two phases for any knock-on in the build up to a try. World Rugby updated this TMO protocol in the middle of 2022, issuing a release that stated that TMO referrals were possible for “all clear and obvious knock-on or throw forward infringements WITHIN TWO PHASES leading to a possible try”. The incident also highlights the amount of control over rugby games that has effectively been passed from referees to video officials.

Nigel Owens also said in his column for a Welsh publication after the Rugby World Cup.

“The other issue then is technology and the bunker,” Owens wrote. “It just feels like the TMO is refereeing games at the moment and that’s not right.

“Your best man is on the field and they should be making more of the big decisions. Between the on-field officials, TMO and the bunker you had six people having a view or opinion on a decision.

No wonder union is in such a bad state with these idiots in charge.

Two simple fixes to start with.

We limit TMO interaction, we have the 20-minute red. Simple ,and could start tomorrow.

Rugby Australia have announced that former test duo Andrew Slack and Justin Harrison as well as high performance expert Darlene Harrison have been appointed to conduct an external review into the Wallabies 2023 season. Slack played in 1984, Harrison in 2004, Darlene never.

None of these will understand how much the game has changed in that time. Listen to Harrison trying to make sense during commentary. He is completely lost. But then again you have SBW, Cheika, Ferguson, Kelly, all trying to tell you what happened. You could not assemble a bigger bunch of losers if you tried. I watched union on mute mode, and have now cancelled my subscription they are so bad.

Maybe Huey, Dewey, and Louie were booked up and could not be reached for the review.

God help me. Buy a newspaper and that will tell you, and a lot cheaper as well.

In a previous article, some time ago, I stated that the hiring of Hamish McLennan was a huge mistake.

Number 2. I also said the sacking of Dave Rennie and replacing him with Eddie Jones was a mistake.

Number 3. is the signing of “The Saviour to Australian rugby”, Joseph Suaalii which cost 5 million bucks, is a waste of money and watch this space as he flops.

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