New Zealand Rugby
NZRU sceptical over TMO extension
ESPN Staff
December 17, 2012
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew attends the funeral of former All Blacks captain and New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs, Old St Paul's Church, Wellington, New Zealand, March 18, 2012
Steve Tew is unconvinced by the benefits of further TMO powers © Getty Images
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The growing influence of the television match official in world rugby could be tempered by the New Zealand Rugby Union, who remain sceptical about introducing new power for next year's Super Rugby season.

On Friday the International Rugby Board will review the television match official (TMO) trials in South Africa's Currie Cup and the English Aviva Premiership.

But NZRU boss Steve Tew is yet to be convinced that the New Zealand domestic competition, Super Rugby or even international matches should follow the template in operation in the Currie Cup and Aviva Premiership.

"It's a bit of an unknown," Tew told the New Zealand Herald. "It's like anything else, if you bring something in it has to add real value.

"It does come at an extra cost, it does take more time, so to add value to the game, does it discourage the referees from making intuitive calls on the paddock which is actually what we pay them to do?

"Does it improve the experience for the fans or the TV audience? All of those questions need to be weighed up.

"There's still a large number of decisions that are not clear cut no matter how many times you view them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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