The New Zealand Rugby Union  has decided not to use television match officials in the NPC in order to save NZ$22 000 (roughly R118 000, US$1 500, GB£9 200) for the season.

TMOs, which required two extra cameras at either end of a ground, were culled from this year's competition as part of a $2.6 million NZRU cost-cutting exercise.

After questions following some goal-line decisions, NZRU general manager Neil Sorensen said that a range of options had been considered, but were still costly.

Sorenson said: "In an ideal world we'd have full TMOs at every match, and they will be there for the semifinals and the final, but it was just too costly for the entire competition, so we had to make a tough call.

"Even if you don't use extra cameras, we still have to find a suitable person to be at the ground, so that's seven people to hire each week.

"We have to mike them up, which is probably about $400 to $500 to set up a system. It doesn't sound like much, but you multiple it by 92 matches and it all adds up."

Cheaper options considered included having a television monitor on the sideline for the referee to consult, as is done in America's NFL, and allowing officials to watch the replay on the big screen before making a call.

Sorenson said: "It was decided that with potentially 20,000-odd people behind him yelling and screaming, he may not be making a proper decision while watching a monitor. The TMO is in a quiet box without the commentary and the crowd and calmly looking at what's in front of him.

"Using the big screens is fine in theory, but not every ground has one."

Sorensen said he felt for the referees, who were under added pressure without the technology, but believed they were doing a fine job.

In France's ProD2 goal judges are used at either end of the ground, as happens sometimes in Sevens.

Thanks to Dominion Post.