Glad some bigger voices are highlighting this nonsense.
Glad some bigger voices are highlighting this nonsense.
Totally!
2,195 posts
In a recent fiery exchange on the Rivals podcast, rugby legends Victor Matfield and John Kirwan unleashed their frustrations over the burgeoning role of the TMO in rugby, arguing it's sapping the life out of the game’s natural rhythm. Their grievances spotlight a broader discontent simmering among players and fans alike, exacerbated by recent controversial decisions in high-stakes matches.
During a nail-biter in Dunedin, where the All Blacks narrowly edged out France 31-27, three New Zealand tries were scrapped due to TMO interventions, sparking outcry. Kirwan blasted the TMO's decision to disallow Pasilio Tosi’s effort for alleged obstruction, calling it "rubbish." He argued,
"The defence was man-on. The guy supposedly impeded wasn’t drifting or even attempting to cover. By the time Jordie Barrett passed, they’d moved 30 metres on—it was never an infringement."
Kirwan's annoyance was palpable as he recounted Billy Proctor's disallowed try over an alleged knock-on. "There was minimal separation and full control. Yet, the TMO ruled it out," he lamented, questioning the inconsistency when compared to previous rulings.
Matfield chimed in, particularly puzzled by the decision to uphold Jesse Kriel’s try for the Springboks despite being ahead of the kicker. "I thought he was at least a metre in front. They went to the TMO, and apparently there was no angle. But even from the broadcast view, you could see he was ahead," Matfield scrutinized.
The duo is exasperated by the excessive stoppages that, in their view, throttle the game's momentum. Matfield expressed, "Every time South Africa got going, it was pulled back. We wanted to play with tempo, but the game dragged." Echoing this sentiment, Kirwan criticized the overall direction from World Rugby's top brass, specifically targeting Joel Jutge’s policy settings.
"We’ve been talking for two years about speeding up rugby. But if the TMO is going to review every single detail, we’ll end up with two-hour games. It’s not the referee’s fault—it’s the people above them."
The conversation highlighted a growing consensus that while technology in sports can enhance fairness, its overuse might be undermining the spectacle of rugby. Both icons agreed it's time for coaches and unions to amplify their voices—if the essence of rugby is to be preserved, World Rugby must recalibrate its approach to TMO interventions.