We should all applaud the TMO not jeer him

During last weekend’s Six Nations match between Wales and Italy, we had a perfect example of why TMO reviews have made elite rugby a much better game, but it also highlighted just how much further some commentators and pundits still need to move to keep up with the times!

- COLIN​ BOAG

About 63 minutes into the game, with victory for Wales over the dismal Italians already assured, there was a lovely move that culminated in George North bolting over for what we were told was his 40th international try. However, sometimes when you see a score, even if you can’t put your finger on it seeing it for the first time at full speed, there’s something that just doesn’t look right, and this was one of those occasions.

When Luke Pearce, who had called it as a try, decided to have it reviewed, Jonathan Davies commented with a resigned tone, “As we do now, we’ll check everything”, and Andrew Cotter chipped in asking how many of the great tries of the past would have been disallowed under modern scrutiny. We then headed down memory lane and they agreed that the greatest try ever, scored by Gareth Edwards back in 1973 for the Baa Baas against the All Blacks, would have been disallowed for a forward pass. Of course that try is in the record books and nothing can change that, but I just don’t get the attitude that some have, that the beauty of the move should seemingly take precedence over the laws of the game!