Rugby World Cup officials are seeking ways to alleviate the delays caused by television match official decisions, keen to reduce the hold-ups that infuriated spectators and television audiences around the world through the opening weekend of the tournament .

World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee chairman John Jeffrey said the technology was invaluable, but he wanted to reduce the time needed to effect correct decisions after the clock was stopped for 10 minutes and eight seconds in the tournament-opening fixture between England and Fiji at Twickenham. Match referee Jaco Peyper referred six incidents to the TMO, and Jeffrey acknowledged that more than one-quarter of the stoppage time was a result of the TMO process.

Jaco Peyper watches the action on a big screen to inform a decision © Getty Images

Enlarge

"The TMO is a part of the match official team and the fantastic technology available is a tool to be used in the making of key decisions during matches," Jeffrey said. "The TMO process is used to make sure the correct calls are made to protect the integrity of the game."

Jeffrey said that "referees, TMOs, technicians and television producers are working together to" protect the integrity of the game, but tournament organisers have sought to clarify the situation.

"The TMOs are tasked with promoting accurate and consistent decision-making," the organisers said in a statement. "The objective of the TMO system is to ensure accurate and consistent decisions are made on the field in a timely and efficient manner. The TMO is a tool to help referees and assistant referees with their on-field calls and the referee remains the decision-maker who is in charge of the process."