Ex-England fly-half Andy Goode has lobbied for a universal adoption of a TMO system after the controversies that clouded the Investec Champions Cup semi-final.<\/p>\n
The well-travelled ex-playmaker stepped into the broadcasting world after hanging up his boots and was on commentary duty for the clash between Union Bordeaux Begles and Bath Rugby at the weekend.<\/p>\n
During the match, Goode<\/a> repeatedly slammed the lack of replays of potential high tackles on Bath\u2019s<\/a> Alfie Barbeary, with his criticism levelled at the home broadcaster\u2019s director. With the clash taking place in Bordeaux, it was France TV that controlled the imagery that we saw at home and subsequently what the TMO had access to, according to Goode.<\/p>\n Champions Cup TMO controversy<\/p>\n While he aired his complaints during the match, he also took to social media to blast the French TV director and doubled down on his views on The Rugby Pod. Bath boss Johann van Graan echoed Goode\u2019s complaints after his team\u2019s defeat, highlighting three dangerous tackles on Barbeary.<\/a><\/p>\n Goode\u2019s main criticism has been that the home director shouldn\u2019t have the power to influence decisions by withholding full access to angles and replays from the fourth official.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t possible during Rugby World Cups, as independent broadcasters are hired, while TMOs have access to systems like Hawk-Eye that provide officials with full access and control over all angles and instant replays. An operator is also employed to assist the TMOs in speeding up the process.<\/p>\n However, more archaic systems are used in PREM Rugby and the Champions Cup<\/a>, with TMOs provided with a live feed and one that has a 5-second delay. They also rely on the director to provide the footage.<\/p>\n Law discussion: How much influence do TV directors have on the modern TMO<\/a><\/p>\n Brian O\u2019Driscoll SLAMS \u2018farcical\u2019 French TV while Austin Healey gives \u2018robbed\u2019 verdict after controversial Champions Cup semi-final<\/a><\/p>\n A uniform approach<\/p>\n Goode believes this is problematic for fans and the game as a whole, and has called for a universal system to be adopted globally, with all leagues and competitions following the same laws.<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing that you can do to eliminate the inconsistencies is across the top professional leagues \u2013 so the PREM, URC, Champions Cup, Super Rugby, and Top 14 \u2013 is have a uniform system,\u201d he said on The Rugby Pod.<\/p>\n \u201cIn some leagues, like the URC have a bunker. You don\u2019t have it in the Prem. The bunker is not in all of the competitions. In some competitions, you\u2019ve therefore got the bunker, some have got Hawkeye, some haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cFrance are doing an orange card in their league for a 20-minute red and all this stuff. It\u2019s all different. Why isn\u2019t there one uniform system played across all the top leagues and tournaments, Six Nations, Rugby Championship, Nations Series that\u2019s coming up? There needs to be a uniform control system that runs the game in that manner.<\/p>\n