FRENCH OFFICIAL CAUGHT CHANNEL HOPPING

In the early noughties Italy’s rugby team were frequently hammered as the five established nations ran up big scores on the newcomers.

Away from home Italy were especially vulnerable and at Twickenham in 2001 England racked up more than 80 points.

The game was so one sided it became boring and some in the crowd began to lose interest.

That is all very well if you have had a couple of glasses of Chablis and some smoked salmon in the car park beforehand but it hardly becomes one of the match officials.

In the second half England went over for yet another try. It appeared clear cut but because it was in one of the corners the referee wanted to check the score with the television match official (TMO).

The replay showed the touch down was good. The (largely English) crowd roared their approval. But they, and the referee, were kept waiting and waiting and waiting.

Why was there a delay in awarding a straightforward score? What could the TMO have seen?

Not much.

It transpired that French TMO had become so bored with the one way traffic on the pitch that he had switched channels and was watching The Simpsons.