TMO delays slammed

2008-07-06 15:08

Johannesburg - Sharks coach John Plumtree was on Saturday night outspoken about the referrals of decisions to the television match official (TMO) following his side's 35-14 loss at the hands of the Blue Bulls.

"I think the idea needs a rethink," he said, pointing out that the stop-start nature of the match had, to a large degree, negated the Sharks' game-plan.

"A side has no chance of playing a high-tempo game with all these stoppages. Against big forwards like the Bulls have, this is what one wants to do."

Because none of the journalists expected the extraordinary number of stoppages brought about by the reluctance of referee JC Fortuin to make his own decisions, the number of stoppages and the time consumed was not accurately recorded by the pressmen.

However, it was estimated that the stoppages took up about 25 minutes, with some exceptionally long delays also occurring in getting a reply from meticulous TMO Michael Cupido.

The referrals also brought about the strange sight of the Blue Bulls, denied a try on the Sharks line, having to come back 60m for a penalty after foul play which was little more than "hand-bag swinging."

Supported the concept in general

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke admitted that some of the delays were frustrating. "There were occasions when our forwards were in the ascendancy and where the stoppages broke our momentum," he said.

However, he supported the concept in general. His captain Wikus van Heerden also admitted to some frustration on the field where the players certainly felt the cold wind during the long breaks.

And how did the spectators feel about the many stoppages?

The booing after about an hour's "real" play spoke volumes. And it was not meant as a joke when someone said that the speed of play now resembled a gridiron match or that something akin to the Twenty20 concept in cricket had to be devised to speed up a rugby match!

- SAPA