Referee wrong but no plans to alter TMO, say organizers

LONDON — Referee Craig Joubert wrongly awarded Australia's winning penalty in its 35-34 quarterfinal defeat of Scotland at the Rugby World Cup but there is no plan to change the TMO system, organizers said Monday. Australia flyhalf Bernard Foley converted the penalty in Sunday's match at Twickenham to send the Wallabies into a semifinal against Argentina next weekend. Distraught Scotland players and fans wondered why Joubert had not referred his decision to the television match official (TMO) but organizers World Rugby (WR) said Monday that he had adhered to protocols. However, while the referee had not been permitted to consult the TMO, World Rugby issued a statement saying Joubert had made a mistake in awarding the penalty for "deliberate offside" by Scotland's Jon Welsh at a lineout in the 78th minute. TV replays immediately showed an Australian player had touched the ball, putting Welsh onside. "On review of all available angles, it is clear that after the knock-on, the ball was touched by Australia's Nick Phipps and Law 11.3(c) states that a player can be put onside by an opponent who intentionally plays the ball," WR said. "It is important to clarify that, under the protocols, the referee could not refer to the television match official in this case and therefore had to rely on what he saw in real time. "In this case, Law 11.3(c) should have been applied, putting Welsh onside. The appropriate decision, therefore, should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock-on." A WR spokesman had told Reuters Monday the sport's governing body had no plans to review the use of the TMO despite the furor over Joubert's decision. "In the build-up to the tournament we have been at pains to explain the exact remit and protocols around the TMO," he said. "The protocols are available on the website." — Reuters