the way forward for refereeing?

[antipodean]

It has two important things in it's favour: it isn't used much and it works.

One important thing against: It's French.

Seriously though, if the referee can stipulate what he wants the TMO to adjudicate on, sure, try it on Super Rugby for a season. But giving the TMO carte blanchett TM is not on.

 

[Jnor]

Hearing voices telling you to burn things isn't much to worry about. In ascending order, the worrying signs are:

1. Voices telling you to burn things,
2. Voices telling you to hurt puppies and kittens, and the greatest crime is
3. Voices telling you to give it away but stay involved by becoming a ref.

Are you the voice in Baa baa's head?

 

[cyclopath]

BaaBaa has heard you already.

 

[barbarian]

Are you the voice in Baa baa's head?

Well that explains ONE of the voices. Doesn't help me identify all of the others though.

 

[Blob]

I agree, that is why we have ARs who have comms with the ref, but they seem to be absent these days or the ref is ignoring them.
The dissalowed try should never have gone to the TMO, it should have been settled between the ref and the AR. The AR should have been in a position to call the forward pass. The TMO is the person who should be used when the ref and the AR are not able to see something and feel that benefit can be obtained by someone watching 32 slow motion replays from 31 different camera angles.

So you think ARs should be as fast or faster than Israel Dagg in order to rule on possible forward passes he might make.

 

[Lindommer]

So you think ARs should be as fast or faster than Israel Dagg in order to rule on possible forward passes he might make?

No, not at all. But smart (or competent) TJ/ARs position themselves so they're in front of play on the short side and the ball comes to them. Even a 59 year old TJ/AR (moi) should/can have a good look at what's happening with/near/on the ball on his side. The younger, and professional, officials should be able to get it right every time.

Mind you, intercepts by speedy 20 year old wingers right next to the touch lines are a bastard.

 

[Baldric]

So you think ARs should be as fast or faster than Israel Dagg in order to rule on possible forward passes he might make.

They are coached to play a "leading" and a "trailing" role. If leading you are on the open side and you should be ahead of play. If trailing you should be slightly behind play on the blind side and watching behind play.
In this case the AR was fairly well positioned to be able to rule on a forward pass.

 

[WB3]

Ok - a reasonably practical proposal for everyone;

The TMO can rule on play before the line at the referee's direct request. Eg - "Can you tell me if the final pass was forward?" is fine. "Anything wrong with that?" is not.

That way the TMO's application would still be limited by direct instruction but they could check things such as that play (or, God forbid, Sir Richie's scrum try against us last year).

Maybe the rule could be refined further, but it seems simple and applicable enough to me.

 

[Lindommer]

The response from robbed Wallaby supporters on this infringment is deafening...:sleepy

The response from AB supporters over this travesty of justice which robbed their righteous heroes of a glorious victory on the steppes of Kazakhstan (isn't that where they played last week?) is somewhat different.