Hawkeye super-replays for TMOs at the Rugby World Cup and, more importantly, medics. No virtual reality ball-tracking cartoons here, but it should be a good thing. Published in the Irish Times on Wednesday, September 1st, 2015.

The TMO is rarely truly loved. When judged by the court of public opinion to be incorrect, he is scorned. As he is if he makes a decision that is correct by the letter of rugby law but which perhaps isn’t entirely clear to many fans sitting on their sofas, or in pubs and clubs where the screen is distant and the sound dim.

And even when they’re correct and make a call quickly and clearly, sometimes it still doesn’t feel quite right. Your team might have crossed the line, it looks for all the world as if it’s a try, but once you see the referee make that little square with their hands, celebrations become muted.

Organic, spontaneous joy reduced to organised fun when permitted by the man in the TV truck.

The replay official will have some extra technological help during the World Cup. Hawkeye will be the suppliers, but there won’t be virtual reality replays like in tennis, cricket and GAA.

Instead, it will be an instant, multi-screen replay. Picture the scene: a player dives over in the corner amid multiple bodies. The ball appears grounded, but was the player’s foot in touch?

The other bodies block the view of the foot from the TV angle that shows the grounding, and vice versa. The guesswork is removed when trying to judge the precise timing of ball and foot. Having instant, simultaneous replays from multiple angles on the same screen is good news for the TMO and good news for the game.

Perhaps more importantly the technology will also be available to medics. World Rugby and Hawkeye told The Irish Times that medics will have tablets with access to this footage, giving them the ability to review incidents immediately both pitchside and in the head injury assessment (HIA) room. If it appears a player has taken a heavy blow to the head, the incident can be reviewed quickly, with a HIA recommended if appropriate.

Hawkeye’s Kim Parker said that the technology was used in 11 Pro12 games this season, beginning with Scarlets versus Munster in February. They also conducted “blind trials” at some 2015 Six Nations games, where a second TMO sat with the Hawkeye feeds.

While it will also be able be used to assist with foul play review, one hopes this will be used judiciously…

Read more: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/analysis-introduction-of-hawkeye-good-for-game-1.2336461