Premiership Referees to rely less on the TMO

[crossref]

In the Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/03/referees-premiership-tmo-rugby-union-

Under the terms of the global trial protocol initiated by the International Board (now World Rugby) match officials are allowed to go back two phases to check if a try should be awarded. In this season’s Premiership, however, referees will be invited to “take more responsibility” and will only go upstairs having first checked with their two assistants.

Tony Spreadbury, the head of the RFU’s re-styled Professional Game Match Official Team, is hopeful the system will work more effectively and better reflect the original intention that referees should not be subservient to TMOs in the stand. While forward passes, in particular, are hard to spot at ground level, the hope is that referees will trust their instincts more often and not refer every second decision to the TMO

also

Props will also be reminded of their responsibilities at scrums, with looseheads required to bind on to the bodies of their opponents and to keep their hips straight. Tightheads, in turn, will not be allowed to place their feet so far back that they cannot properly support themselves.

 

[TheBFG]

they're on a hiding to nothing! The first try that's given by a ref that then gets replayed 20+ times and there's a chance of a forward pass will result in the refs getting the "why didn't they go upstairs"

They can't win! :shrug:

as for the scrums, refs need to sort this out, teams take far too long and should just bloody get on with it!

 

[Ian_Cook]

they're on a hiding to nothing! The first try that's given by a ref that then gets replayed 20+ times and there's a chance of a forward pass will result in the refs getting the "why didn't they go upstairs"

They can't win! :shrug:

as for the scrums, refs need to sort this out, teams take far too long and should just bloody get on with it!

I agree. This is an over-swing in the other direction. What should happen is this (and Craig Joubert is very good at this).

Example
The referee suspects there might have been a marginal knock on at the base of the tackle as the SH tries to clear the ball. He allows play to continue (allowing a few seconds for comment from his AR's or maybe he asks for comment "on the run"). The ball is cleared, he's heard nothing from his ARs, and three passes later, an attacking player grounds the ball in the corner.

Referee consults AR's who didn't see anything, so he asks the TMO..."just check for a knock on by the SH at the last tackle".

If the TMO reports that the SH knocked the ball on, no try, scrum back defending team to throw in

If the TMO reports that he sees no knock on, try stands

The TMO could also report that he saw an opponent on the ground knock the ball out of the SH's hands, try stands.

This is the skilful way to use the TMO. Only go back if you think you saw something untoward, not "just in case" to cover your own backside. If a grounding had not occurred, would it really have mattered in the greater scheme that he might have missed a marginal knock on?