This time, the TMO was right to stand ground

Try or no try? Henry Slade tackling Bautista Delguy last weekend

I’M not the biggest fan of the TMO and their level of interference in the ebb and flow of modern rugby matches, but credit where it is due, he was spot on last Saturday night in informing referee Angus Gardner that the Argentine player had grounded the ball on the intersection of the try line and touch in goal line and thus it was no try, therefore denying Argentina the chance to convert the try for a draw and snatch away from a dogged England team a hard fought and deserved away victory at the death.

He stood his ground and prevented Gardner from committing a howler of an on-field decision. It was definitely an ex- ample of the technology doing what it was implemented for.

England need to sort out their discipline however, as they got away with going down to 13 players against the Pumas, but it is unlikely that the Springboks, France or the All Blacks would be as forgiving if the same was to occur in a World Cup knockout game next year.

It has to be near the top of the England coaching team’s to-do list if the national team are to challenge for silverware again.

Paul Sheehan