Japan coach Eddie Jones has hit out at excessive TMO interference and the obsession with freeze-frame analysis.
Writing for PlanetRugby, Jones launched into a scathing assessment of the current state of officiating in Test rugby.
Jones was frustrated by a late red card to Japan debutant debutant Harry Hockings in their 24-23 defeat to Wales that was later rescinded by a disciplinary committee, but said the problem goes far beyond one incident.
“We had 93 minutes on pitch, 41 minutes ball in play and 52 minutes of stoppages. Is that what the punter is paying to see?” he asked.
Across last weekend’s fixtures, Jones noted a staggering 61 TMO interventions leading to 170 minutes of combined stoppage time, plus 14 yellow cards and two reds.
“It’s bloody absurd,” he said. “The cards are having a quantum effect on the way the game is being played.”
Jones argues that slow-motion and freeze-frame footage distort reality and turn natural rugby collisions into frame-by-frame courtroom debates. He cited Springbok lock Lood de Jager’s controversial red card against France.
“Lood is 6’9″. [Thomas] Ramos is on his knees, technically out of play,” he said. “As he approaches the number of dynamic actions taking place is vast and we have to acknowledge that. The decisions are being made in a binary fashion and there’s a tendency to make the images fit the protocols, rather than let the actions fit reality.
“For those reading this who have played at a decent standard, these are moments of such fine time margins, you cannot react quickly enough to change the dynamics. We’re talking split seconds, and by the same token we’re asking a 6’9″, 130kg man to change in those split seconds, which is as near to biomechanically impossible as you’ll get.”
He slammed the way TMOs judge tackles.
“This idea of ‘leading with the shoulder’ is crap. You have to lead with the shoulder. It’s like catching a cricket ball – your fingers wrap after the contact. Freeze the footage and it will always look like no wrap.”
Jones believes the constant stoppages also contradict World Rugby’s stated goal of increasing fatigue to create space.
“How the hell are you going to achieve that when there are 52 minutes of dead time for the big boys to grab cakes and recharge?”
ALSO: Rassie frustrated at lack of red card clarity
The veteran coach proposed a five-point plan to restore flow and sanity:
- TMO only for foul play or grounding
- Clear definition of cynical play
- Real-time officiating, no still frames
- Simple card framework: yellow for cynical, red for reckless
- Fewer stoppages to increase pace and fatigue
“We’re searching for perfection in the most complex sport,” Jones said. “Referees must referee, players must play – and the TMO must get out of the way.”
Photo: Xavier Laine/Getty Images
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