RUGBY: New TV referee trial.

[APoc184]

Just watched the Stormers vs Sharks warm-up match and the referees are trialing a new TV referee system.

Instead of going to another referee in the Supersport van, the on-field referee gets to review the footage himself at a feed behind the poles. He then makes a decision from that footage and immediately makes the call.

It is a lot like NFL and their reviews.

What is your views on this?

There is positive and negative in doing it this way, but I think a lot more positive.

 

[James]

Too soon to tell from me. I like the fact that we are 'supposed' to hear the conversations between the ref and the director so we can understand the call more. I certainly need to see more before I make a call.

 

[LancelotSA]

The actual process does not bother me in the slightest. The main criteria is ensuring the correct decision is given. How this is done is of little consequence. The positive with this method is you have the same individual using the TV screen to confirm, or refute, what HE saw in real time.

 

[I am Penguin]

Maybe so but the time? and the HUGE chip on the shoulder. Can they not give him a cell linked PC like a ball runner when it's required!

 

[sand_man]

Score?

 

[APoc184]

The actual process does not bother me in the slightest. The main criteria is ensuring the correct decision is given. How this is done is of little consequence. The positive with this method is you have the same individual using the TV screen to confirm, or refute, what HE saw in real time.

That is the important bit for me. No middle-man. The guy that saw the stuff live is the guy that reviews the footage and makes his decision based on everything he saw.

Time concern. Not really. Takes him at most 10seconds to run to the TV where everything is already set up. He looks at the footage makes the decision and makes the call. And it didn't take much longer than the normal system would.

My only concern is transgressions before and during the act of scoring.

Example:
It looks like a try has been scored but when the referee arrives it is a pile of bodies and no ball is visible. He asks for a review and runs over to the screen.
While reviewing the footage he clearly sees an attacking player hitting/stomping a player on the ground. Now?
Does he stop right there and award a penalty and yellow card for the offensive or is he limited to checking whether a try has been scored.

 

[LancelotSA]

My only concern is transgressions before and during the act of scoring.

Yeah, I have concerns here too. They state that using the TV replays is to ensure that the correct decision is given but, as in yesterday's game, what if it was felt there was a forward pass earlier. Apparently Bob said that he cannot factor that in. But I suppose it is a matter then of where you draw the line. I suppose if you took the footage back one minute for every try you'd be bound to spot a transgression at some stage.

 

[APoc184]

I'm not saying take back the footage one minute each time. That would make things very problematic, but a lot of times the referee asks: Can you check the grounding for me? Now he is only allowed to check that and nothing else.
What happens if he spots clear obstruction before the ball has been grounded? Will the current system allow the call to be overturned?

But I still believe if they set clear boundaries that this will work. I prefer that one man makes the calls, whether bad or good. The current TV referees rarely blow a game themselves.

 

[The_Pumpkin_King]

i didnt like it at all, took way too much time and completely killed the game for that time, i just changed to the cricket and never went back to the rugby

There is nothing wrong with the TMO system, they should stick to that

 

[LancelotSA]

I'm not saying take back the footage one minute each time. That would make things very problematic, but a lot of times the referee asks: Can you check the grounding for me? Now he is only allowed to check that and nothing else.
What happens if he spots clear obstruction before the ball has been grounded? Will the current system allow the call to be overturned?

This is no longer happening is it? I thought the replay is just shown and he watches the whole event. There is no need to point out specific areas you want looked at like with the old TMO. I never heard Joubert asking for specific things to look at. Only when he asked them to go backwards and forwards with the grounding in that one shot.

 

[APoc184]

I'm actually referring to the official system still used. Not the one on trial.

Obviously he will not ask questions and just review the footage as shown. But will he be allowed to look at everything, including obstruction, rucking, forward passes etc.
As you said, they will have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[x S1 x]

Is this on trial now for use in this years super14? If it is, might be too soon for this...

 

[APoc184]

Is this on trial now for use in this years super14? If it is, might be too soon for this...

I don't think it will be on trial in the Super 14.

This is a SARU initiative. Not SANZAR.
Most likely is, it will be on used during the Varsity Cup and Vodacom Cup.

 

[APoc184]

Looks like this was given the boot very quickly.

Must have been due to the time issue.

And seeing that we now have TMO specialists (Meuwissen, Veldsman) it was never going to take off.

 

[DJ...]

I don't quite understand why they're further complicating a working system. It truly boggles my mind. The TV review system works perfectly as it is - why change it? I mean we have a permanent TV ref in Shaun Veldsman.

In all seriousness though, there is no need for the ref to get involved in intricate reviewing - from a spectator's perspective it will be rather comical watching this play out behind the poles though. It also creates further technical requirements for all stadiums which for the smaller provinces is just another cost issue.

I don't understand this...

 

[McGuywer]

Agreed.
There is no need to change the TMO setup.
I would rather have a ref, 2 assistant refs and a TMO.
Not a ref/TMO and 2 assistant refs.