RWC: Rennie calls for TMO restriction

Referee Jaco Peyper spent much of the World Cup opener conversing with the TMO. Photo / Getty

Like almost everyone else who watched the Rugby World Cup opener between England and Fiji, Dave Rennie was left dismayed by the level of interference from the TMO.

And having recently returned from an IRB rules forum in London, Rennie believed something needed to change to avoid television referrals becoming the scourge of rugby.

Rennie, who was representing New Zealand rugby at the forum, agreed that England's win over Fiji was spoiled by the constant conversing between the TMO and referee Jaco Peyper, which saw the match drag on an extra 24 minutes.

"The TMO being able to chip in for any situation is an issue," the Chiefs coach told Tony Veitch on Newstalk ZB. "Some of them have stopped the game then, once they've looked at the footage, realise there's nothing to look at. It's just madness.

"I think we have to get away from that - we certainly don't want to TMO chipping in every 15 seconds."

A former publican himself, Rennie did joke there was one party who benefited from all the delays, but insisted the man in the middle needed to assume a greater level of control in future.

"It's good for the pub owners - keep people in the pub a bit longer," he laughed. "But it's not a positive, there's no doubt about that. The whole idea of the TMO was making sure we get the decisions right but, in the end, we've got a guy with a whistle and his job's to referee. I think that should be our focus."

There were no such issues in Japan's stunning upset of South Africa this morning, a match Rennie watched with interest. The Japanese captain, Michael Leitch, was a stand-out for the Chiefs this season and Rennie was thrilled for both the No8 and his countrymen.

"[Leitch] is a great man and to lead his country to a win over South Africa is a big occasion for him," he said. "It's brilliant for Japan, especially with all the controversy surrounded Super 18 of whatever we're calling it next year.

"In a pool where you were unsure who would go through with South Africa, they've made a hell of a statement."

Rennie was also eagerly anticipating the All Blacks' debut at the tournament and, after visiting Steve Hansen and his charges, he was predicting a fast start from the defending champions.

"It's the strongest team they can put out on the park at the moment," Rennie said. "I spent a couple of days with them and they're really buoyed by finally getting over there. There's been a lot of talk about a World Cup and they're ready to go. They'll make a statement tomorrow, I reckon."