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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cruz_del_Sur" data-source="post: 896621" data-attributes="member: 55747">I understand other games dont have TMO too, and that other games which Spain won didnt have TMO either. I also understand that Rugby Europe are responsible. I refuse to believe however, that WR has nothing to do with all of this and has it hands tied to fix it. Facts, not opinions: - A game which for every practical reason decided who goes and who doesn't to the world cup was refereed without a TMO- The very same game was officiated by a ref who's nationality screams conflict of interest - As mentioned in this thread Nigel Owens refereed one of the first RWC qualifier games between two caribbean nations, none of which had the slightest chance of actually making it to the world cup. Opinions: - If this is the resource allocation the organizers have in mind well then, well, these are the consequences. If you decide to fly the world's (arguably and clearly not my opinion) "best" ref to an inconsequential game and then send whoever is free to an important game, there is a chance that can backfire. - Spain is a relatively greenfield rugby nation with a reasonable potential and (given how small the sport is now there) interesting growth perspective. This might have very well killed the growth of the sport. Team won't be going to the world cup and chances are it will be sanctioned severely while the people responsible for the officiating will suffer little to no consequences. New and potential fans run away from things like these.  For the record, i am not angry at Romanians, Romanian Rugby or even the ref. I am angry at whoever organized this. And no, accountability shouldn't stop with Rugby Europe. Again, i dont believe for a second there was nothing WR could have done to prevent this.</blockquote>

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