Robbie Deans employs satellite technology to help straighten Matt Giteau's wobbly boo

[AndyS]

I think he can look at anything in the act of scoring...

[James]

That was a pretty normal request to the TMO. They ask if a try was scored or if there is any reason why they can/cannot award a try and the TMO is allowed to look to see if the player was in touch when they grounded the ball or in the process of grounding the ball (usually the same thing).

[jazza93]

A quick definition of these situations that i found:

The areas of adjudication are limited to Law 6. 8 (b), 6.8 (d) and 6.8 (e) and therefore relate to:

- Grounding of the ball for try and touch down
- Touch, touch-in-goal, ball being made dead during the act of grounding the ball.

This includes situations where a player may or may not have stepped in touch in the act of grounding the ball on or over the goal line.

[Burgs]

Cool, thanks.
I am pretty sure that must have evolved from the original mandate.
Originally they had to specify exactly what they wanted looked at ("Grounding & knock on" etc) which is why the "Any reason" loophole started coming in a year or two after the introduction of TMO's. That is, if the Ref only asked for grounding but the TMO could see touch in goal he wasn't able to highlight that, and I think that is a good advancement.
I hadn't realised that they were now allowed to judge in the field of play though.