Role of the TMO

[Big Dai]

That is a good idea - I'm sick of players who are on the deck grabbing players who are on there feet.

It's a penalty if you play the ball when on the ground and the same should apply to opposition players.

There are too many players penalised for not rolling away when they are clearly being prevented from doing so to milk a penalty or even to stop them getting back to their feet to legitimately return to compete. Yes they may be on the wrong side but sometimes thats how the tackle takes you. If players didn't hold them in perhaps more would roll away and the game actually move on.

Happening all the time now. In prehistoric days you'd get a shoeing not penalised.

Beat me to that response!

[trendylfj]

IMHO they do a reasonable job and they should be free to draw the ref's attention to "clear and obvious" mistakes/foul play. I would also put them clearly in charge of the clock and by that I mean they should have the right to stop the clock whilst the ref is having a discussion with the front rows/capt etc without waiting for an instruction to do so. I would also like them to have a conversion/penalty attempt clock. It winds me up when kickers take over their allotted time for the goal attempt. We have only once seen a SH punished for exceeding the 5 sec use call but never seen a kicker pulled up for exceeding his allowance. If both were done the game would be speeded up and we would get more time with the ball in play.

On another point, I would love for the refs to call "use it" as soon as the caterpillar starts to form not when it has taken 10/15 sec to form - SH would actually move the ball much quicker and the repetitive box kicks would be reduced.

[strawclearer]

IMHO they do a reasonable job and they should be free to draw the ref's attention to "clear and obvious" mistakes/foul play. I would also put them clearly in charge of the clock and by that I mean they should have the right to stop the clock whilst the ref is having a discussion with the front rows/capt etc without waiting for an instruction to do so. I would also like them to have a conversion/penalty attempt clock. It winds me up when kickers take over their allotted time for the goal attempt. We have only once seen a SH punished for exceeding the 5 sec use call but never seen a kicker pulled up for exceeding his allowance. If both were done the game would be speeded up and we would get more time with the ball in play.

On another point, I would love for the refs to call "use it" as soon as the caterpillar starts to form not when it has taken 10/15 sec to form - SH would actually move the ball much quicker and the repetitive box kicks would be reduced.

The call of "Use It!" is becoming highly irritating - particularly on TV. If they have an amount of time before being penalised, let them have it then blow the damn whistle! They'll soon learn to tell the time themselves!

[GETHIN EXILE]

"Use it" should be called as soon as the ball is at the back of the ruck, any player joining after the call should be penalised for time wasting. If the scrum half stands at the side of the caterpillar and moves the ball to the back he should be penalised for "in at the side". The practice of a player binding onto the back of the ruck and then picking the ball up should be treated as "hands in the ruck".

[JP14]

Would be nice if ref's actually enforce binding in a ruck, if players don't bind correctly the ball should be considered out.

[tigerburnie]

Getting back to the title, I'd enforce the rule of small children.......................................the TMO should be seen but not heard and only speak when they are spoken to.

[ourla]

Getting back to the title, I'd enforce the rule of small children.......................................the TMO should be seen but not heard and only speak when they are spoken to.

So if they see someone deliberate injure an opponent they shouldn't say anything (as an example) unless the referee asks them?

[Tiglon]

Getting back to the title, I'd enforce the rule of small children.......................................the TMO should be seen but not heard and only speak when they are spoken to.

So if they see someone deliberate injure an opponent they shouldn't say anything (as an example) unless the referee asks them?

My first question would have been how would the TMO be seen? Are we saying there should always be a little in-screen video feed of the TMO (but muted to comply with Victorian social conventions, obviously)? Why would we want that?

[tigerburnie]

Me thinks some of you ought to get out more.............................socially distanced and masked of course

[Tiglon]

Me thinks some of you ought to get out more.............................socially distanced and masked of course

Says the person living in 1860

[tigerburnie]

You've been to North East Scotland then lol.

[jgriffin]

You've been to North East Scotland then lol.

Seems like a century since we were in Melrose. Love the Borders.

[wormus]

You've been to North East Scotland then lol.

Seems like a century since we were in Melrose. Love the Borders.

It certainly was great there and it was Freddie Burns first game I believe, but not a memorable game as the local Ref. Andrew McEmermy? was certainly the "enemy" as far as Cockers was concerned. Concrete seats too!

[Noggs]

Was it Burns Night?

I'll get me coat,,,,

[tigerburnie]

You've been to North East Scotland then lol.

Seems like a century since we were in Melrose. Love the Borders.

I had to travel for over 2 hours south to get to there lol.