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Former All Blacks coach slams 'tedious and ridiculous' TMO interference
John Hart is pleading with World Cup TMOs to back off and let the referees do their job.
Hart, who helped guide the All Blacks to their 1987 triumph, said he agreed with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who has claimed the officials are “spooked”.
And Hart described Ben Skeen’s performance as TMO in the Australia-Wales game as “tedious and ridiculous”.
The World Cup appeared to hit a crisis point during Wales’ victory over Australia, when Kiwi Skeen’s intrusions in his role as television match official had a controversial influence on the outcome and caused delays.
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It appears that after an opening weekend in which the referees were criticised by their own bosses for not being vigilant enough, the officials are now in danger of being overzealous.
In general, Hart believed officiating should be left to referee, while citing commissioners could deal with marginal incidents post-match.
“Let the referees judge on what they see,” he said.
“In the Australia v Wales game, the interference from the TMO was tedious and ridiculous. The referee was losing his control … it was in the hands of the TMO.
“I wouldn’t often agree with Michael Cheika but I do think the refs have become spooked because of the publicity and pressure they are under in decision making.”
Hart also told New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB’s Mike Yardley that rugby should revert to a more traditional view of what constitutes a red card.
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“In simple terms what we do not want to see is a World Cup outcome determined by red and yellow cards.
“There needs to be a little more common sense approach to what is a red card offence … it should for something which is malicious, intentional, dangerous. A very clear act.”
Hart said those sorts of acts were few and far between in the modern game.
Hart agreed with the suggestion that the officials were overcompensating for the opening weekend.
“The poor refs can’t win either,” he said.
“They are trying to do what is in the best interests of the tournament. The TMOS are interfering and controlling … it is tedious and takes too much time, impacting negatively on the tournament.”
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But Hart also agreed with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who said coaches need to back off from criticising referees. Hansen said it is creating undue pressure which won’t help the situation.
Hart said the game had become very complex to referee.
“But we need to make sure we are watching the game not the referees,” he said.
After Skeen’s intervention, referee Romain Poite penalised Wallaby ball carrier Samu Kerevi for a throat-high fend against Wales. It was an unusual decision which played a big part in the result.
Samoan wing Ed Fidow was red carded against Scotland, after being issued a second yellow card.
This article first appeared in nz.herald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments