More officiating controversy. There’s always something, isn’t there? And this time, apparently, it’s Austin Healey’s fault – for making a swift and astute observation in his role as a TV pundit.

In the closing stages of Saracens’ thunderous 52-7 win over Harlequins, Stephan Lewies, the frustrated captain of the doomed visitors, hurled himself recklessly into Owen Farrell, who was on the ground beside a ruck. 

It was an ugly collision, late and off the ball, sparking a scuffle involving several players. It justified action against Lewies, but nothing happened, because Healey highlighted the offence on TNT Sports commentary.

Television Match official Stuart Terheege was over-heard telling referee Christophe Ridley: ‘The problem I have got now is that it looks like Austin has instigated it, because we’re late, so I don’t want to talk about it, okay?’ In essence, he did not want to be seen to make an intervention to ensure justice was done, in case it was perceived as being prompted by an external voice.

The bizarre, farcical episode has not gone down well. Professor John Fairclough from player welfare group Progressive Rugby said: ‘Whatever the reason, it is clear a decision has been taken to ignore foul, reckless or dangerous play because of concern that it had been highlighted by a pundit. This is hugely concerning and a clear dereliction of a match official’s duty to ensure player safety. An explanation should be sought as a matter of urgency.’

An ugly collision between captains Stephan Lewies and Owen Farrell took place late in Saracens' triumph over Harlequins

An ugly collision between captains Stephan Lewies and Owen Farrell took place late in Saracens' triumph over Harlequins

An ugly collision between captains Stephan Lewies and Owen Farrell took place late in Saracens’ triumph over Harlequins

Referee Christophe Ridley opted not to punish Lewies after being advised that doing so would make it appear they had been influenced by the TV commentary

Referee Christophe Ridley opted not to punish Lewies after being advised that doing so would make it appear they had been influenced by the TV commentary

Referee Christophe Ridley opted not to punish Lewies after being advised that doing so would make it appear they had been influenced by the TV commentary

He’s right; it was wrong. It shouldn’t happen, but this is a problem of having a member of the match-day officiating team being so reliant on broadcasters to provide the material needed – and to even be sat with them. In a murkier sense, there have been regular grumbles over recent years that TMOs can be hampered in France by sudden, inexplicable shortages of camera angles.

The incident at Saracens was a bad look for the game and needs to be rectified. There cannot be such a glaring procedural flaw for no good reason. It would be ideal if the officials can be kept separate from – and oblivious to – the work and views of the television staff nearby. But, even if they cannot avoid be privy to some outside opinion, take the correct action anyway.

On a brighter note, there were positive developments on the far side of the world last weekend. During the Blues v Crusaders match in Super Rugby, Kiwi referee Ben O’Keefe kept ordering scrum-halves to hurry up at the base of rucks – with count-downs to prevent time-wasting. Then he was available for interview after the game, to talk through his decision-making in relation to three yellow cards and other talking points. Urgency and transparency; a welcome double.

MERCER COULD BE CRUCIAL FOR ENGLAND 

Zach Mercer is a Test player who just happens to not play Test rugby. 

That is the obvious conclusion from the Gloucester No 8’s latest stellar club performance, as he and his West Country team-mates stormed the ramparts at Welford Road and inflicted a shattering defeat on Leicester. 

Mercer was good. Really good. Ridiculously good. He’s like a one-man cheat code in a rugby computer game. Here’s hoping that England head coach Steve Borthwick can bring himself to have a re-think about the 26-year-old, given the national team’s recent change of strategic direction. 

Zach Mercer has proven time and time again that he is deserving of a call up to Steve Borthwick's England side

Zach Mercer has proven time and time again that he is deserving of a call up to Steve Borthwick's England side

Zach Mercer has proven time and time again that he is deserving of a call up to Steve Borthwick’s England side

Mercer was overlooked for the Six Nations but he would be an all-singing, all-dancing asset on the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand. 

If England want to maintain their new adventurous streak, Mercer could really enhance that mission. Imagine him and Ben Earl running at a tiring defence…

FARRELL MAY YET SIGN OFF IN STYLE 

Don’t bet against Farrell signing off from Saracens as a title-winner, yet again. It was the epitome of a statement victory for the defending champions; in terms of style as well as substance. 

To think that they used to be derided as boring, but now run the ball from behind their own line – and there was Elliot Daly throwing passes between his legs, which is not exactly his typical approach with England. 

Owen Farrell may yet clinch one more Premiership title before departing Saracens for France

Owen Farrell may yet clinch one more Premiership title before departing Saracens for France

Owen Farrell may yet clinch one more Premiership title before departing Saracens for France

Quins joined Northampton in being the victims of a half-century hammering over the weekend – and there was always a danger of such blow-out results after the refreshing disruption of a mid-season hiatus. 

Meanwhile, profound congratulations to Saracens for filling the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and showing that club rugby can – with the right marketing effort – grace the same grand stages as Premier League football.

DONCASTER DEBACLE HIGHLIGHTS PREMIERSHIP FAILINGS

Relegation has become a hot topic again, after a week when the sport reinforced its anti-growth credentials. 

There will be no movement in or out of the Premiership this summer, as Championship clubs had to apply to be audited for promotion and only Doncaster submitted to that process. 

The fact that leaders Ealing Trailfinders were not so keen may have had something to do with the estimated £30million fee for entry into the top division – in the form of insistence that newcomers purchase a P-share. 

That barrier should be dismantled, on the basis that the Premiership has been a loss-making enterprise. Anyway, Doncaster learned that they had satisfied the Minimum Standards Criteria, having reached a point in the season when they already knew they would not win the Championship, so it was all a wasted exercise. 

The fact that no promotion or relegation will take place this season highlights the failings of the Premiership's financial processes

The fact that no promotion or relegation will take place this season highlights the failings of the Premiership's financial processes

The fact that no promotion or relegation will take place this season highlights the failings of the Premiership’s financial processes

How very rugby.  

Meanwhile, Georgia have opted to call out Wales – asking for a Test in Tbilisi this autumn, in lieu of an actual Six Nations promotion-relegation play-off. If the WRU read the room and say yes, it would be a risk worth taking. 

In an era when the oval-ball calendar is full of ‘money matches’, this would be a fixture with far greater significance, even if it would do nothing to change the landscape, at least for the time being.

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