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Attentive watchers of rugby must realise that time keeping is not to a high standard. There are a number of examples of this.
Detectable errors are far from uncommon. Delays in responding to referee instructions about when the ball is in play are commonplace.
Referees are inconsistent with regard to the circumstances in which they signal time-off. Adjustments are sometimes made to correct previous errors due to inattention or communication confusion.
Not all errors are corrected and although many may consider them inconsequential they have to potential to affect the flow of the game or alter the result.
A recent example occurred during the Cheetahs versus Chiefs game at Bloemfontein on April fifth, which was broadcast on Foxtel.
A penalty was awarded to the Chiefs with 66 minutes 32 seconds on the clock. Footage continued until 66 minutes 52 seconds when on-screen replays commenced. This footage included Aaron Cruden’s preparation for the penalty kick at goal.
After some delay the action of preparing for the penalty attempt was shown as commencing with the time clock showing the time at 66 minutes and 16 seconds – some 13 seconds before the infringement occurred.
Closer examination will reveal that 52 seconds disappeared from the time clock.
Separate footage, which did not include a time clock or commentary, showed that the time between when the penalty was awarded and Cruden chose to take a penalty was 14 seconds – and that a further 52 seconds passed before the ball was indicated as out of play in the in-goal area.
The apparent time taken for the penalty attempt according to the time clock was 14 seconds. The elapsed time according to both the supplementary tape and the Foxtel record was 66 seconds. It appears that a period of 52 seconds was lost.
Referee Craig Joubert did not appear to signal any “time-off”. Even if he had, this action would not explain how time not only stood still – but went into reverse.
Less than three minutes later at 69 minutes 29 seconds on the clock, a try was awarded to the Chiefs and an on-screen replay commenced immediately.
During that replay a voice that could have been that of the referee can be heard to say ”time off” as soon as the try was scored.
However, there was no observable “time-off” indication on either the Foxtel or the supplementary tape and there was no observable subsequent signal for “time-on”.
Following the replay of the scoring of the try the conversion attempt was shown commencing at 69 minutes 15 seconds – 14 seconds before the try was scored.
The Foxtel tape shows that conversion was completed at 69 minutes 48 seconds indicating an apparent time taken for the conversion of 19 seconds – although the elapsed time was 72 seconds. The separate footage confirms that the period between when the try was scored and the completion of the conversion was 72 seconds.
There was therefore (depending on whether a period of time off was signalled by the referee) a further period of up to 53 seconds excised from the elapsed game time. If “time-off” was signalled, the question to be answered is why this was necessary on this occasion as no assistance from the TMO was sought.
In all, a period of up to nearly two minutes of playing time disappeared.
At 78 minutes 46 seconds on the time clock the Cheetahs were awarded a penalty and kicked for line. The subsequent lineout was won by the Cheetahs at 79 minutes 29 seconds and they remained in clear control of the ball until 79 minutes 52 seconds – before conceding a penalty.
Regardless of whether the referee had signalled “time-off” on both of the occasions identified, there remains 27 seconds of “vanished” time that should have been included in the time shown on the clock. It should have indicated at least 79 minutes and 55 seconds when the lineout took place and 80 minutes and 22 seconds when they conceded the penalty.
It is inconceivable that the Cheetahs would not have kicked the ball into touch to end the game.
However, the game continued for another three minutes during which the try which eventually secured a draw was scored. The Cheetahs were denied a win.
In the recent past there have been glaring errors made by the game officials in South Africa which have altered the result in two and maybe three games. This appears to be a further example of incompetence.
Were the Cheetahs also cheated? Or did this incompetence simply square the ledger for the try to Rayno Benjamin in the fifteenth minute that so many observers believe was the result of a forward pass?
Either way, there are no excuses for inaccurate timekeeping in the modern game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.