Tappe Henning, the maestro behind the match officials, is buzzing about the Vodacom URC's spanking new TMO system, which he believes is a game-changer. Kicked off in the season's first round, this fresh setup lets the TMO crew break free from the broadcaster's apron strings to independently sleuth out pivotal play moments, all in real-time.
Explaining the nitty-gritty, Henning said, "We now have a tech wizard right next to the TMO, scouring through all available camera feeds to catch any mischief or missed calls on the field. This way, we're not twiddling our thumbs waiting for the broadcaster to show us what's what. Instead, we dig up the dirt ourselves and serve it up hot and ready for the refs to make the right call."
While the new process has sped things up in the TMO booth, Henning admits there's room for improvement. "It's like shifting from dial-up to broadband. Sure, there might be a hiccup or two as we get used to the speed, but we're getting there," he commented during a URC media round table.
"It’s never the intention for the TMO to make the decisions. It’s still for the referee to make the decisions, but we can support the referee in making accurate decisions, which is hugely important for the game. It is the way forward. This is where the future lies."
Henning highlighted a recent incident involving Cardiff centre Ben Thomas at the Arms Park as a prime example of the new system's effectiveness. After several replays, it was determined that Thomas' clearout, which initially seemed legal, was dangerous, leading to a 20-minute red card and a three-week suspension, mitigated to two if he undergoes a coaching course.
"That was a very good example of where the key angle which decides the decision was found after three or four replays from the other camera angles," Henning explained. "The time it took to get the key angle on screen, we can improve on that to make it more fluent and quicker."
With around eight to nine camera angles at their disposal, the URC officials are more equipped than ever to ensure the game's fairness and accuracy, reflecting the high stakes and fast pace of modern rugby. Henning is confident that this technological leap is just the beginning of a new era in rugby refereeing.
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Tappe Henning, the maestro behind the match officials, is buzzing about the Vodacom URC's spanking new TMO system, which he believes is a game-changer. Kicked off in the season's first round, this fresh setup lets the TMO crew break free from the broadcaster's apron strings to independently sleuth out pivotal play moments, all in real-time.
Explaining the nitty-gritty, Henning said, "We now have a tech wizard right next to the TMO, scouring through all available camera feeds to catch any mischief or missed calls on the field. This way, we're not twiddling our thumbs waiting for the broadcaster to show us what's what. Instead, we dig up the dirt ourselves and serve it up hot and ready for the refs to make the right call."
While the new process has sped things up in the TMO booth, Henning admits there's room for improvement. "It's like shifting from dial-up to broadband. Sure, there might be a hiccup or two as we get used to the speed, but we're getting there," he commented during a URC media round table.
"It’s never the intention for the TMO to make the decisions. It’s still for the referee to make the decisions, but we can support the referee in making accurate decisions, which is hugely important for the game. It is the way forward. This is where the future lies."
Henning highlighted a recent incident involving Cardiff centre Ben Thomas at the Arms Park as a prime example of the new system's effectiveness. After several replays, it was determined that Thomas' clearout, which initially seemed legal, was dangerous, leading to a 20-minute red card and a three-week suspension, mitigated to two if he undergoes a coaching course.
"That was a very good example of where the key angle which decides the decision was found after three or four replays from the other camera angles," Henning explained. "The time it took to get the key angle on screen, we can improve on that to make it more fluent and quicker."
With around eight to nine camera angles at their disposal, the URC officials are more equipped than ever to ensure the game's fairness and accuracy, reflecting the high stakes and fast pace of modern rugby. Henning is confident that this technological leap is just the beginning of a new era in rugby refereeing.