Nigel Owens says that the protocol\u2019s around the clock management needs to be looked at by World Rugby.<\/p>\n
As it stands, almost a minute of action can be lost because of a TMO review that takes place after a try is scored and while the conversion attempt is being taken.<\/p>\n
If a TMO and referee rule out a try, the clock is not wound back to exclude the conversion. This flaw in the protocol was exposed in the latter stages of the clash between England<\/a> and Argentina<\/a> at the Allianz Stadium during the final full weekend of the Quilter Nations Series.<\/a><\/p>\n Los Pumas loose forward Joaquin Oviedo was awarded a try in the dying embers of the game, and Santiago Carreras lined up and converted the score some 55 seconds later. However, upon review, referee Pierre Brousset and TMO Eric Gauzins spotted the knock-on by the Argentine forward before the subsequent restart by England was taken.<\/p>\n Wind back the clock<\/p>\n The timing of the events emphasised the need for the clock to wind back, with commentator and former England star Austin Healey pleading with the officials to give Argentina the lost minute back, with Los Pumas needing another score to clinch a come-from-behind victory.<\/p>\n Owens<\/a> agreed with Healey\u2019s comments when he discussed the prospect of including a protocol to wind back the clock in such instances when he appeared on World Rugby\u2019s<\/a> Whistle Watch with legendary Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Argentina get a disallowed try on minute 78. Okay, so the try is scored on 78.21, Carreras kicks the conversion, and as they\u2019re coming back to the halfway line, TMO review starts on 79.09. So essentially, 50 seconds have happened, right?\u201d Roberts said, reviewing the events.<\/p>\n \u201cSo some fans are watching that game and wondering whether rugby should start rolling back the clock because a minute is a long time come the end of the game, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Owens replied: \u201cAt the moment, that is not the protocol; that is not what\u2019s in place, but I think it\u2019s certainly something that World Rugby needs to look at because you\u2019re basically wasting that minute and then chalk that try off, that clock needs to go back.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s not what the process of the protocol is at the moment, but I certainly would like to see that changed in rolling the clock if that\u2019s the case.\u201d<\/p>\n England allowed to pick Springboks-tied centre as World Rugby give greenlight under \u2018exceptional circumstances\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n