Jim Mallinder has called for greater consistency in how television match officials (TMOs) are used by referees after Chris Ashton’s citing and 13-week suspension for biting the Northampton prop Alex Waller.
The Northampton director of rugby said he could not understand why Ashton, the Saracens wing, was not dealt with immediately once the referee, Greg Garner, had been made aware of the 24th-minute incident by Waller.
Garner told Waller – who pointed to a mark on his right arm that he said had been caused by Ashton’s bite – that the incident would be reviewed after the match and did not refer it to the TMO. In the second half, Waller was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle after Garner asked the television match official to take a look and it marked the turning point of the match.
“I do not make any excuses for Alex’s yellow card, but by then we should have been a man up,” said Mallinder.
“Chris Ashton’s disciplinary hearing showed that the citing officer thought there was a case to answer, but the referee decided against involving the TMO at the time – a decision that had a big say in how the game unfolded later on.
“What was particularly frustrating was that the TMO helped in the decision which ultimately turned the game – Alex’s sin-binning – as, up to that point, we had been playing really well. There has been plenty of talk over the years about how the TMO is used and it is essential that they are used with consistency by all the referees, especially if there is a serious allegation on the field at the time.”
Waller was involved in a controversial incident during Saturday’s home defeat by Wasps, who have secured the bragging rights in the Midlands after their victory at Leicester earlier this month. Northampton lost by five points and had a first-half try ruled out after the prop was ruled to have paved the way for Ken Pisi’s run to the line by blocking Elliot Daly.
“Obstruction is a tough call to make and I don’t think Alex did it on purpose,” said Mallinder. “You need a bit of luck on your side and we are not getting that at the moment. We have played two very good sides in Saracens and Wasps and showed we can compete. We just need to be more accurate.”
The England captain, Dylan Hartley, missed his second match in a row with a back strain. “He is up and about and I hope he will be fit to play against Exeter on Friday night,” said Mallinder.