SANZAAR doctors TMO protocol
The protocol comes a long way from its birth in Pretoria and the early suspicions of the rugby world. Now it is often a part of the drama of a rugby match.
It has also been the focus of many of the seminars given by Alain Rolland, the former Test player and Test referee who is now in charge of World Rugby's referees.
The amendment reflects the emerging technology that is now available in terms of the number of camera angles and the use of split-screen television software, plus SANZAAR’s desire to tighten the process and make it more accurate, more efficient and to reduce the time taken for the decision-making process.
The match officials form a team of four – referee, two assistant referees and the TMO. The referee may consult the TMO in two cases – scoring and foul play. Scoring a try includes the act of scoring and a possiblke infringement by the team scoring in the two phases prior to the scoring of the try.
The SANZAAR adaptation is in the process, not the substance.
The adaptation states firstly: "Should the referee or one of his team (Assistant Referees or TMO), wish to initiate a review of a decision (via replay by the TMO), the referee will first state to the TMO his "on-field decision" based on his real-time view. The TMO will then review the given incident accordingly based on the referee’s assessment.
"The TMO must be persuaded that the evidence is compelling before proving the on-field referee’s call wrong, and therefore overturning the call."
The adaptation allows the referee to review the incident on the big screen (or request the TMO to review it if the replay screen is of poor quality) with no “on-field decision" prior to the review.
Commenting on the new protocol SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos said, “The general consensus is that with the new technology and the protocol of a definitive "on-field call", time is saved and the awkward conversation between referee and TMO that occurs from time to time is eliminated.
“SANZAAR is confident this will enhance the fan’s match experience. This also aligns our sport’s process with that of almost all the other high performance sports, which use a television replay protocol.
“In summary, this protocol change makes the process clean and efficient and places accountability for an “on-field call” in the hands of the referee and a review of that decision in the hands of the TMO."
