Appointment of South African TMO sparks fury in Lions camp

World Rugby on Wednesday withdrew New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill as the TMO for Saturday’s first Test between the Springboks and the Lions at Cape Town Stadium citing travel difficulties

British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Lions head coach Warren Gatland is understood to be furious at the late replacement of Saturday’s neutral television match official with a South African whose decision-making has already mystified the New Zealander on this tour.

Last Wednesday, World Rugby withdrew New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill as the TMO for Saturday’s first Test between the Springboks and the Lions at Cape Town Stadium, citing travel difficulties in the ongoing pandemic.