Fury over TV official as Saints win
SARACENS chief Edward Griffiths has called for a root and branch review of the Television Match Official ‘shambles’ after Owen Farrell’s controversial disallowed try in the Aviva Premiership final.
Northampton claimed their first league title thanks to Alex Waller’s dramatic last-gasp try in extra time at Twickenham yesterday.
It might have been a different story, though, had Farrell seen his try just past the hour mark stand.
Referee JP Doyle initially awarded the score before reversing the decision after the apparent interjection of TMO Graham Hughes.
Doyle was heard to ask Alex Goode ‘are you taking the conversion?’ after awarding the try, before then referring the decision on the try.
‘Most teams in the Premiership would say the protocol has become a shambles, it’s almost make it up as you go along,’ said chief executive Griffiths.
‘Some referees use the TMO as a kind of video operator, ‘show me that again please’, others take instruction, others take guidance.
‘This sounds like sour grapes but it isn’t, because this would be the case had that final try not been given.
‘The TMO process is a shambles.
‘It’s something that Premiership Rugby will have to look at’
Tries from Ben Foden and George Pisi for Saints and a reply from Marcelo Bosch for Saracens left the score locked at 14-14 at full-time.
Charlie Hodgson landed two penalties to Myler’s one in extra time, before Waller crashed home to seal Saints’ victory.
Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder shrugged off the impact of the TMO rulings, suggesting tense finals will always throw up marginal calls, with luck ultimately evening out over time.
‘I think in a close game like that you can always pick on one or two ifs and buts decisions, and we could look on one or two things where we didn’t get the bounce of the ball either,’ he said.
‘Alex Waller’s score at the end was a clear try as soon as the ball went down — never in doubt!’