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Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland took a swipe at the role of the Television Match Official (TMO) after his side narrowly lost to the Brumbies in Canberra at the weekend.
The Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final was tightly contested with the Brumbies holding a 37-33 lead before the Hurricanes mounted a late push for the winner.
Not to be
Several minutes after the clock went red the visitors thought they had their victory through inspirational skipper Ardie Savea, only for it to ruled out as the TMO failed to find conclusive evidence that the try had been scored.
Holland admits his side could have been in a better position where the game did not hinge on the call, but believes that the function of the TMO needs to be better worked.
“We had lots of opportunities to win the game, especially in that last five or 10 minutes, and I completely understand we could have won the game without relying on that [final decision],” he told reporters.
“But the thing in my head is around TMOs, and TMOs have been the main bugbear for me. With referees you win some, you lose some and get decisions right and wrong, and I can accept that.
“The bit with this, I just keep thinking why has the TMO been brought into the game? My understanding was the TMO was brought into the game so we get things really right, especially in big situations at the end of the game.
“But I just think we’ve just created opportunities not to get it right. I think about our game, Ardie scored to win the game, and I think about when [Blues flanker] Dalton [Papalii] got the red card against the Crusaders and from the pass Tamaiti Williams drops a massive knock on and we don’t get that right, and they’re massive moments.”
A telling factor of the TMO process is to do with the initial on-field decision from the referee which in this case saw Nic Berry not award the try. For the decision to be overturned by the TMO, there has to be compelling evidence to the contrary, but no angle produced this.
Convinced the try was scored
🗣️"I scored it, brother. Initially I scored it and then he held me up. But hey, it is what it is." #SuperRugbyPacific #BRUvHUR
🌪️ Ardie Savea convinced he scored Hurricanes' match-winning try. https://t.co/tG50tFCOJX
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) June 11, 2023
However, the Hurricanes coach, like his captain, is still adamant that the try was scored.
Holland added: “Ardie scored the try, there’s no doubt about that but it’s a good one to figure out about TMOs. Is it about speeding the game up or is it about getting it right?
“The obvious one is Nic Berry could have said try or not a try. They can do that, which would have been a totally different scenario and why he did that I’m not sure.
“We’ve gone full circle from trying to get it right to now trying to speed the game up and I think we’re in all sorts of trouble because we’re relying on a question for that decision which means the TMO is probably thinking ‘that’s probably a try, but I can’t award it because of the question’.”
The heartbreaking loss marks the end of Holland’s stint at the club with the coach set to join Scott Robertson in the All Blacks set-up.
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