Rugby Union: Red cards for Springbok and Ireland lead the match to call into question the management of the fall

The Autumn Nations Series has delivered some great rugby. From New Zealand’s fourth-quarter blitz over Ireland in Chicago to the dramatic finale between Wales and Japan in Cardiff.

There was Louis Bel-Bearer’s brilliance for France, Argentina’s stunning comeback against Scotland, England’s emergence as a world power, and South Africa cementing its greatness with massive victories in Paris and Dublin.

But while there was much to celebrate, there were also frustrations, particularly over rule tampering and the use of the TV match referee. [TMO].

“Bloody ridiculous,” is how Japan’s president Eddie Jones described it, external The amount of time lost in the match due to stoppages, while according to former England winger Chris Ashton, the refereeing at times over the course of the month was “very average”.

After Ireland’s defeat to South Africa lasted more than two hours, with five yellow cards and the hosts being reduced to 12 men at one point, former Ireland international Stephen Ferris said the game looked “off”.

So why is the sport in this predicament, and what can it do to improve?

There is a paradox at the heart of rugby union. The sport, which is inherently physical – and somewhat dangerous – has faced an existential crisis over safety, with several former players embroiled in legal action against the game’s authorities.

As a result, lawmakers have spent years trying to crack down on dangerous play by enabling referees to punish illegal tackles with red and yellow cards.

But while there is an ambition to recalibrate the sport from a game of collision to a game of evasion, rugby union at the highest level has never been more brutal, as the Springboks showed in their dismantling of Ireland in the Aviva.

It is therefore understandable that officials are on high alert, in a desperate attempt to ensure that no dangerous intrusions or collisions pass through the network. What does this lead to? TMO Referrals. Pauses. The time spent in the game. It is already a complex and difficult sport to officiate, and it is becoming more complex.

“Name a sport where officials are more visible than rugby?” asks World Cup winner Paul Grayson.

“It’s a very difficult match to manage anyway, without all the extra events.”

“The only other game I can think of where there is so much communication and posturing is the NRL, and there are seven referees on the pitch, looking at everything,” says England captain Danny Kerr.

“All the things that have slowed down and confused the game at the moment are things that happen off the field with referrals, TMOs and bunker reviews,” Grayson adds.

“The amount of time people are intervening outside the playing surface, or being asked to intervene, is what sometimes makes games a mess.”