Five minutes for a TMO call does the game a disservice

If it happened once, it would be understandable, but the befuddling manner that the refereeing team and the television match official stumbled over their own words in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby between the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls did the game a disservice.

And it wasn’t the first time. Same stadium, one of the same teams and another TMO decision that not only took ages to complete but was in that case also wrong in the end.

You’ve gotta feel for Tappe Henning - he’s been in the job a few months as the head of referees and he has had to put out many many fires already. From players chirping to errant coaches attacking decisions and perceptions of home town referees.

But if there is one place he can put his foot down, it is in TMO decisions.

The TMO concept was a good one to begin with. We all want the correct decision to be made, and in the beginning it saved the blushes of referees who have so much to deal with.

But the TMO has now become the VAR of rugby and causes more high blood pressure among fans of the game than anything else.

It didn’t take long for captains and players to realise they could slow the game down, influence a decision that had already been given and even get away with a few things by questioning any try that is scored.

Watch any modern game in the URC and it is seldom, if ever, that a captain doesn’t question the referee after a try is scored.

So what was meant to be a help to the referee has often become a tool for players and refs to find a reason not to award a try.

The negative behaviour aspect is a poor reflection on the game. If there is a clear and obvious knock, or forward pass, then it is a good thing. But too many decisions are being based on marginal calls that aren’t sometimes even worthy of a second look.

And they’re slowing the game down to an excruciating point.

One twitter follower this weekend tweeted me the following when the incident settled: “I went to the shop, lit a fire, cooked my meat, went for a walk, came back, took a nap put the television on and they still didn't make a decision.”

Perhaps the exaggeration was a bit much, but the TMO decision on the weekend (see video below) was a full five minutes long. That’s half a yellow card indiscretion and much, much longer than any decision should ever take.

I do understand that sometimes it takes a bit longer because video footage of a specific incident takes a little longer to find, especially when you need to pinpoint something that isn’t clear and obvious.

But on Saturday referee Frank Murphy’s discussion with Marius Jonker bordered on the ludicrous.

First Murphy decided that Hacjivah Dayimani’s head high tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse wasn’t worthy of a yellow card, then he was happy that a try was scored. Then after countless replays showing a clear knock, he wanted to check a foot in touch - another debatable decision and decided it wasn’t in touch and the try should stand.

Then a further check finally brought the knock on to light, but then a yellow was given for a high shot.

In the end viewers were left more confused than anything, and the entire process took way too long.

The only good thing about it was that there was a knock on and the right decision was called in the end.

But it all took way, way too long for a game that needs to speed itself up at the best of times.

In future perhaps limit decisions to three minutes max - I’d even say 90 seconds from when the pictures are delivered - and if nothing is clear and obvious, then move on.

The current system, which is becoming longer and longer by the day, and is being challenged by players in every game, just isn’t working.

A solution needs to be found. And unfortunately Tappe, it will be your fire to put out.

The game deserves better.