Round 14 Super 15 Rugby 2013 was difficult to predict with home upset wins to the Rebels and Waratahs fooled most SuperBru punters. The TMOs continue to create controversy with their decisions or lack thereof, when you get home commentators suggesting their team shouldn't be awarded a try, then surely there needs to be something done about their decision making! The Reds were the worst affected, with four tries disallowed, thereby disproving the theory that Australian teams get treated better than other teams.

There were some crucial matches this weekend, with the Chiefs and Crusaders securing hard fought, victories to move ahead of the Blues and Hurricanes respectively. The Bulls thrashed the Highlanders to remain top of the South African conference, while the Waratahs and Cheetahs also picked up home wins to improve their chances of making the Top Six. The Sharks and Rebels saved face in Australia.  Interestingly, unlike Round 13 where only one match had a margin bigger than seven points, Round 14 saw only two matches with less than seven points between the two teams.

Before TMOs (television match officials) and so many television replays, there was less scrutiny of referees as there were less camera angles and media focus on their performances. There was also nothing called social media to give people an avenue to complain and raise awareness. There are so many rules and interpretations of rugby that it is easy to find the odd mistake when you get so much coverage from every angle! Am I being too harsh on TMOs?

The role of the TMO is confusing, with some referees asking different questions of the TMO and sometimes there are also restrictions on how far back a TMO can go. One example might explain how the penalty try was awarded to the Rebels against the Stormers when it looked like they lost the ball a few times in the lead up. Rugby rules are very complicated where it looked like the ball was lost forward at the ruck before Scott Higginbotham appears to have hit the ball forward out of the hands of one of the Stormers players (although this is often not called a knock on).

Often the definition of forward pass and knock on has been called into question and needs to be simplified. Some of the time it has come down to the definition of knock on or forward pass or the TMO jurasdiction or amount the TMO can be used, but other times even with the definition, the wrong call has been made in my opinion. The referees now seem to lack the confidence to make the decision that they go upstairs to the TMO often.

In Super Rugby Round 14,

Rod Davies try from a kick against the Cheetahs for the Reds,

Quade Cooper's pass which was called forward.

Ndungane try from a knock on against the Highlanders (this probably wouldn't have changed the result, but it was funny to see both teams and commentators assume it went forward and preparing for the scrum when the try was awarded).

Some examples from previous rounds

Rebels two tries vs Chiefs from forward passes

Chiefs try disallowed vs Rebels.

Hosea Gear try for Highlanders vs Brumbies.

The extended use of the TMO has added about 10 minutes to most games, but it seems that even though they are called upon, they aren't always making the correct call, unless I am missing something. I think they at times are victims of the rules or guidelines that they must stick to.

Will have neutral TMOs solve the problem? Do they need to follow rugby league's stance and have a former player in the box with the TMO? Should they simply get rid of the TMO?

In SuperBru, johan has taken the lead in the Super Rugby Tips conference. ROYEE is in second place, while Chanti-Belle is in third. MDS took the golden cap and not for the first time!

I thought that the Crusaders were the most impressive team of the round, especially since they beat the Blues by 20 points.