ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
DECISION PENDING
In a blow to rugby’s already glacial pace, officials have confirmed that there will be no Television Match Official available for the second test between the All Blacks and France in Wellington, due to them being caught up reviewing a try from 1905.
The try in question came during the All Blacks’ historic “Originals” tour of the British Isles and France, which took place 120 years ago and was somehow deemed “still under review”.
After a busy week reviewing a forward pass from the All Blacks World Cup quarter-final in 2007, tomorrow night’s TMO has been rewinding dusty old film from last century and studying a grainy still frame of a man in a woollen jersey falling over the tryline.
“He might have bobbled it. Or it might’ve been a defect from the deteriorating film. You just can’t tell with 1905 camera angles. I’m not sure the ruck was legally formed either” the TMO confirmed.
The footage, which required a crank-operated projector and the assistance of a local museum curator, has reportedly been watched over 300 times in slow motion.
The TMO then began winding the reel once again and analysing a ruck infringement for the fifteenth time.
“And none of the players are numbered either. I’ve spent the past 72 hours trying to determine whether the guy with the handlebar moustache was onside at the breakdown. I don’t think I’ll be able to make a decision on this until early next week, so I’ll have to miss tomorrow’s test in Wellington.”
Fans are looking forward to a free-flowing test between the ABs and France now that there will be no over the top interventions from upstairs.
More to come.
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