New trials to extend powers of TV official

THE powers of rugby’s Television Match Official (TMO) will be extended to the entire field in selected northern and southern hemisphere games in 2012 and, if successful, it may become permanent.

At the moment, the TMO can only be called on by referees when the play is in the in-goal area. However, IRB referee manager Paddy O’Brien has revealed that the trial would allow the TMO to weigh in at other points of a game — for example, in the lead-up to tries and where foul play was involved.

A protocol will be established to determine how it will work, but the test would “extend the use” of the TMO.

“Protocols around this have yet to be established, but it is likely to be trialled in the new year,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien maintained that, overall, he was delighted with the World Cup — and the standard of refereeing.

“There were 48 games in the World Cup, and the quality of refereeing was as good as any I’ve ever seen,” said O’Brien, although he conceded there were “some” games he was not happy with, with issues around decision making.

For the first time O’Brien and his team visited all 20 teams involved in the 2011 RWC and “preached the big five priorities” — the tackle breakdown area, the offside law, scrummaging, obstruction of the law and foul play.

Wayne Barnes, the ref during the All Blacks’ shock exit from the 2007 World Cup, was constantly under the microscope. “The treatment Wayne Barnes got during this World Cup was nothing short of disgraceful,” said O’Brien.