‘Ego got in’ TMO’s way after apparent foul play on Owen Farrell is wilfully ignored
Owen Farrell being hit late during Saracens' Premiership victory over Harlequins in 2024.
There was a controversial incident during Saracens’ Premiership clash with Harlequins where the television match official decided not to rule on a possible incident of foul play.
The hosts had just scored their seventh try of the game through Juan Martin Gonzalez when co-commentator Austin Healey spotted something that perhaps needed TMO intervention.
Owen Farrell was tackled off the ball by a Quins player just before Gonzalez went over and Healey felt it should be reviewed.
Healey’s commentary
“Owen Farrell being upset and it’s worth another look. (Stephan) Lewies comes in with his knees into the ruck,” he said on TNT Sports’ coverage. “I think six slides into the ruck really late with both of his knees. Where he hits Farrell could be really interesting.”
However, the TMO Stuart Terheege could hear the commentary in the truck where he was situated and seemingly did not want to be influenced by the ex-England player.
Terheege appeared to say: “The problem we’ve got now of course is that it looks like Healey’s instigated it. The problem I’ve got now is that it looks like Austin’s instigated it.”
OK, I’ve found the footage. You can clearly hear an exchange that was DEFINITELY not intended to be heard by the @rugbyontnt viewers. pic.twitter.com/R2g4aoYsnJ
— Tom Finn-Kelcey (@TFinnKelcey) March 23, 2024
Lobby group slams TMO for ‘dereliction’ of duty after ‘reckless’ play on Owen Farrell is ignored
It was a bizarre moment and one which did not go to an official review, with the alleged Harlequins transgressor not being penalised.
Later on, a wider shot showed the incident and Healey was adamant in his assessment of what happened.
“That’s a yellow card all day long. It’s off the ball, the ball’s gone, he steps in with his shoulder with a no-arm tackle,” he said, before changing his mind on who charged into Farrell, adding: “I think it’s actually (Irne) Herbst isn’t it?”
While the incident was being viewed on screen, the TMO seemed to state: “oh don’t show it”, urging the director to cut away from it.
Also this- TMO yelling “oh don’t show it”. Is this actually allowed?
Some interesting questions for @premrugby & @rugbyontnt
One for @stephenjones9
& other rugby journos to query pic.twitter.com/7OGKicN1R8— Tom Finn-Kelcey (@TFinnKelcey) March 23, 2024
A number of questions
Should all that information be corroborated, the TMO, whose conduct was labelled “unprofessional” online, could find himself in hot water, given that he decided to ignore potential foul play on the basis of what Healey had said.
The former England utility back wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Think the TMO has had better days looks like ego got in the way of ruling on foul play.”
It also raised a number of other questions over whether the official should have access to commentary and if such a thing has happened in the past.
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