No video howlers, promises O’Brien

WORLD referees boss Paddy O’Brien is confident there’ll be no video howlers at the Rugby World Cup after firing off a memo instructing match officials to stay within IRB guidelines when calling on the man upstairs for a ruling.

O’Brien sent out the missive after a controversial no-try ruling in New Zealand’s loss to the Springboks last week in Port Elizabeth, when the television match official (TMO) advised referee George Clancy there was a forward pass in the lead-up to Jimmy Cowan crossing.

The IRB’s protocols state the TMO can only rule on what happens in goal, not in the field of play — and O’Brien admitted a clear mistake had been made.