Mallett: TMO a blight on rugby

by | Jul 20, 2026 | African Golf News

😄

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett says TMO interventions are robbing the game of its rhythm.

Speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, Mallett questioned interventions that saw three Junior Boks tries ruled out in the Junior World Championship final against France in Tbilisi on Saturday night.

“For foul play, they are allowed to go back as far as they want,” Mallett said. “In fact, in the U20s, they went back a number of phases to the winger having his foot out as he passed inside and that try was disallowed. It was a beautiful line from Samuel Badenhorst, who scored a wonderful try and then it was brought back.

“It must have been at least three or four phases 
 so they were going back that length of time.”

MORE: Junior Bok champs ‘just kept grinding’

Mallett also questioned why Yaqeen Ahmed’s late try was ruled out after the TMO told the referee that the flyhalf had jumped over a defender.

“Why wouldn’t you look at the tackle from the French guy when Yaqeen Ahmed scored his try? It didn’t look to be a wrap; he just dived with his head and shoulder straight at Ahmed’s knees.

“I mean, it was a perfectly good try to me. When TMOs are looking for reasons to disallow a try, that is really stupid.”

The former Bok boss insisted TMO reviews should only overturn “clear and obvious” errors.

“By all means go back if the ball is out, if there is a clear knock-on, if there is a clear bit of foul play, but when the ref has seen everything and awarded the try, to try and then go back is just really irritating.

“It’s a blight on rugby at the moment because my heart just drops. After a try when you see the guy going, ‘OK, we are going to go and have a look back’, it just really drops.

“It just feels as though there is no rhythm in the game. We can’t get the game going.

“The great thing about rugby is it’s a game which keeps continuing, but for me these breaks are not really doing rugby a service at the moment.”

MORE: World Rugby bans Italy coach after TV rant

Mallett also admitted he is relieved not to be coaching in the modern era after Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada was sanctioned for criticising match officials.

“I broke down a referee’s door once to get inside and shout at him after a performance, Italy against Australia,” he said.

“I had to be taken out by security afterwards, so I would have been in a lot of trouble if I was coaching nowadays.”

The post Mallett: TMO a blight on rugby appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.