Rugby: IRB support officials at Twickenham test but changes are in pipeline

Referee Nigel Owens during the the All Blacks' controversial victory over England at Twickenham. Photo / Getty Images

The International Rugby Board are happy with the performance of the match officials during the All Blacks' controversial victory over England at Twickenham, but changes could be coming for next year's World Cup around what images are shown on the stadiums' big screens.

All Black coach Steve Hansen criticised the way constant television replays alerted the 82,000 crowd and referee Nigel Owens to several issues during the 24-21 victory, including rechecking a try he had already awarded to prop Charlie Faumuina as Beauden Barrett was lining up the conversion. Hansen felt an advertisement on the pitch had created an illusion of two goal-lines which further complicated matters.

The crowd also voiced their displeasure at the grounding of Aaron Cruden's try - but that was awarded immediately by Owens.

An IRB spokesman told the Herald: "The use of technology is permitted to assist the match official team with accurate decision-making. Any member of the [match official] team may request TMO use and the IRB is satisfied that the protocol was correctly applied by the team."

However, it is understood changes are likely for next year's global tournament in England and Wales. Sunday's Twickenham test was hosted by the RFU, which meant the images shown on the big screens were a matter for the host union and its broadcaster.

At the World Cup, the big screen feed will come from an independent feed, rather than the domestic broadcaster. It is unlikely that any controversial images would be shown which could affect the referees.

Hansen reiterated yesterday that he would like changes made and as soon as possible. He said he made a complaint following an incident in the recent Rugby Championship loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg when Wayne Barnes was alerted to a high tackle by Liam Messam on Schalk Burger by an enthusiastic television producer and a vocal crowd. Pat Lambie kicked the resulting penalty for the victory.

He said he wouldn't be making another one after the Twickenham incidents, but said New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew might through official channels.

One solution that he backed was a challenge system - which cricket and tennis have - whereby coaches could challenge a referee on a "clear and obvious" mistake.

"We suggested it three years ago but the wheels turn slowly," Hansen said. "There has just been too many occasions that have been missed ... In 2007 in the quarter-final [loss to France in Cardiff] I think everybody in the stadium except the ref [Wayne Barnes] who had the best view saw that it was a forward pass so you could challenge that. You would only do the clear and obvious and if you get it wrong you lose the challenge like you do in other sports. And you only get two so you wouldn't want to waste them."

Asked if he would like to see such a system brought in for next year's World Cup, he said: "I'd like it to be brought in next week, but it won't be.

"They don't seem to want to bring anything in until after World Cups which is a shame because it stops us making the game better."

Of the crowd's confusion around Faumuina's try, he added: "The problem in that case is that the advertising sign created two trylines so when it went up on the big screen and the crowd saw the advertising line really close to the tryline, they thought it wasn't a try. There are some common sense things we could do to help."