Rugby: Hawk-Eye helpful but errors will play part

Referee Nigel Owens was involved in a controversial TMO ruling in a test between the All Blacks and England last year. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The news that Hawk-Eye, a system used to judge line calls in tennis, cricket and football, will operate at the Rugby World Cup to help television match officials with tight decisions will please many viewers and supporters but the teams involved in England and Wales over the next few months might have a more cautious response.

That's because, no matter what technology is used, the element of human error cannot be eliminated. It still takes a TMO to review an incident - for example, whether a try has been scored - and that person is not immune to making mistakes, as we have seen in the past. Also, the right question has to be asked by the referee. For example: "Is there any reason I cannot award the try" and "Did you see a grounding" can result in different conclusions.

Whereas the Hawk-Eye in tennis and cricket uses an animated display to rule on line calls and LBWs, for instance, the rugby version appears to be based around what has been described as SMART replay technology - effectively many cameras covering many angles which have the capacity to zoom in on the action.

The system will also apparently be used to help prevent concussed players from staying on the field - and if that's the case, more power to it.

Paul McNamara, a project manager for World Cup broadcaster ITV, said: "We are pleased that the Hawk-Eye technology will supplement the traditional replay and review procedure. At critical moments the new technology will be able to add a split screen and zoom feature to the existing camera angles to help the TMO and referee in the decision-making process."

The addition of a spokesman for the broadcaster in the World Cup press release announcing the use of the technology is an interesting one, because they too will have a part to play.

The All Blacks' 24-21 victory over England at Twickenham last November was notable for the controversy surrounding referee Nigel Owens' use of the TMO following crowd reactions prompted by endless replays of certain incidents.

There was booing following Aaron Cruden's try - in which he managed to get the ball on the line before he was pushed back - once it was broadcast on the big screen, and the same happened after Charlie Faumuina's in the second half.

The latter prompted Owens, who had awarded the try, to ask for a TMO decision despite the fact Beauden Barrett was lining up the conversion. The try stood - the booing was a result of crowd confusion over an advertisement on the pitch which had created an illusion of a second tryline.

In the aftermath of the controversial victory, an IRB spokesman told the Herald: "The use of technology is permitted to assist the match official team with accurate decision-making. Any member of the [match official] team may request TMO use and the IRB is satisfied that the protocol was correctly applied."

However, there will be changes to the images being fed to the big screen at the World Cup. Last year's Twickenham test was hosted by the RFU, which meant the images shown on the big screens were a matter for the host union and its broadcaster. At the World Cup, the big screen feed will come from ITV. It is less likely any controversial images would be shown which could influence the referees.