Joe Launchbury is pulled by Uruguay's Alejo Duran. The England player was awarded Man of the Match for his performance against Australia but not everyone was convinced. Photo / Getty Images
Joe Launchbury is pulled by Uruguay's Alejo Duran. The England player was awarded Man of the Match for his performance against Australia but not everyone was convinced. Photo / Getty Images
The controversial Rugby World Cup Man of the Match system will change for the knockout phase of the tournament.
So far in the World Cup a three-player shortlist has been selected by the tournament's world feed radio, with fans picking the winner via social media.
The fan vote system cameunder fire a number of times during pool play, including when England's Joe Launchbury was named best on the field in his side's 33-13 defeat to Australia.
Launchbury with his Man of the Match award. Photo / Getty Images
That was after Wallabies first-five Bernard Foley scored 28 of Australia's 33 points.
"Any man-of-the-match scenario where you have a public vote and that public vote takes place at a particular point in the game leads to some anomalies," head of Rugby World Cup Alan Gilpin told BCC.
"We're looking at that now before the knockout stage and the plan is for the change to be made. We're adjusting the timing and the way the voting takes place."
