World Rugby admit ‘challenges’ with refereeing standards

TOKYO:

World Rugby have criticised refereeing standards at the World Cup after a number of controversies in the tournament’s opening days.

The governing body said yesterday there had been “initial challenges” with the use of technology and communications between match officials at the tournament in Japan.

“Following the usual review of matches, the match officials team recognise that performances over the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup 2019 were not consistently of the standards set by World Rugby and themselves,” a statement said.

“But World Rugby are confident of the highest standards of officiating moving forward.”

Several incidents have been missed by officials — and shared widely on social media — since the tournament kicked off last Friday.

Reece Hodge’s apparent high shot on Fiji’s Peceli Yato went unpunished at the time, but the Australia wing was later cited and will face a disciplinary hearing today.

Footage of All Blacks captain Kieran Read’s head-high, off-theball tackle on South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit, unnoticed by officials, has also drawn much comment online.

And France’s players are fuming over the refereeing during their last-gasp win over Argentina in their Group C opener.

‘Les Bleus’ won last Saturday’s encounter 23-21 in Tokyo thanks to a Camille Lopez drop goal 10 minutes from time but the French feel Australian referee Angus Gardner failed to sanction their opponents for engaging early in the scrum, which is forbidden under new rules.

“We worked for weeks not to engage early, and on the first three scrums they put pressure on us and the referee didn’t say much,” France captain and hooker Guilhem Guirado was quoted as saying by sports daily L’Equipe yesterday.

World Rugby said: “Elite match officials are required to make decisions in complex, high-pressure situations and there have been initial challenges with the use of technology and team communication, which have impacted decision-making.

“These are already being addressed by the team of 23 match officials to enhance consistency. Given this proactive approach, a strong team ethic and a superb support structure, World Rugby have every confidence in the team.”

Referees are able to review incidents on the field with the help of a Television Match Official (TMO).