Tuesday 20 October 2015 13:57, UK
Will Greenwood has supported Craig Joubert's on-field decision, and says the TMO protocol should not be changed.
Joubert awarded Australia a penalty in the 79th minute without referring the matter to the TMO, and gave Bernard Foley a kick to win the game. Joubert left the field immediately after the final whistle, prompting criticism from the Scottish team for his actions.
Sky Sports pundit Will Greenwood backed Joubert to make the decision on the field, and said getting the TMO involved would not have been the right move.
"It could not be reviewed," said Greenwood. "If a referee believes a Scottish player has knocked the ball on, in the intensity and the pouring rain, and the Scottish player is the next player to touch it, stood in front of that, then that's a penalty.
"If we go to the TMO for every decision… the first game of the World Cup lasted almost two hours and the TMOs were lambasted.
"If we check everything we might kick-off on a Saturday afternoon and finish sometime Sunday evening. It just can't happen.
"By the letter of the law, if Joubert saw what he thought he saw, it was the correct decision."
"We've let technology in and it's being used exceptionally well. Not all the decisions are going to be right and it's a shame when the final, key one goes against you. But we must be wary of making snap changes to everything.
"The heart and power of rugby is a skinny Rodney Trotter-esque being able to manage three tonnes of men without any comeback."
The former England centre believes repetitive reviews are a danger to the game due to the amount of interpretation involved.
"There has to be a constant review of what's going on, but there are tiny knock-ons and infringements at most breakdowns," he added.
"My old man said empty hands are idle hands on a rugby field; every player is trying to manipulate, grapple, and move someone out of position.
"There is an extraordinary amount of grey area. This offside rule is a simple one, trying to remove a grey area. You knock the ball on and a team-mate in front of you picks the ball up; that's a penalty. You can't go back and check every one."
The Sky Sports pundit sympathised with the Scottish players, but says they need to come to terms with the decision.
"Mark Cueto will go to his grave saying he scored a try in the 2007 World Cup final that could have led England to victory," said Greenwood.
"It's one of these decisions that Scottish players will have to come to terms with. Snap reassessment and changes is simply not the answer.
"By the letter of the law, if Joubert saw what he thought he saw, it was the correct decision."
The Scotland defeat meant the end of the road for the final northern hemisphere side in the competition. All four quarter-finals featured a Six Nations side taking on a Rugby Championship side, and in all four contests the European side lost.
Greenwood attributes the southern hemisphere dominance to their upbringing and regular competition against the best teams.
"It's an extraordinary complex situation and a variety of things play into this," said Greenwood.
"The natural athleticism, physique and genetics of a South African and New Zealander in terms of their upbringing is much better than your average Anglo-Saxon or Celt.
"It's the way they're brought up. The religion of rugby in New Zealand and South Africa means first and foremost their best sportsman will play rugby, not football or cricket.
"The Australian outdoor ability to go and play, the toughness of the Argentinians, and the Argentina argument highlights one of the reasons that's at the top of this list. They play each other time and time again so the best get better.
"In reality, the not so good in terms of rankings, play against each other and improve marginally and rank ourselves against teams that aren't relevant to World Cups. It's finding the situation to almost ignore winning or losing in the Six Nations.
"Clive Woodward was never afraid to do that. He had the belief that you have to plan to find a way to beat New Zealand, South Africa, Australia - and now, Argentina."
