All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie is set to raise questions over TMO timing at a World Rugby meeting next month following a controversial review during New Zealand's 43-21 win over Australia.
The incident came when Wallabies fly-half Declan Meredith broke through the All Blacks defence and looked certain to score.
However, scrum-half Cam Roigard produced a last-ditch tackle to stop him.
TMO Marius van der Westhuizen then asked referee Luke Pearce to review whether Roigard had deliberately kicked the ball during the challenge.
After checking the footage, the officials ruled that the contact was part of a legitimate tackle.
Rennie agreed with the decision but believes the incident has raised an important question about how the clock is managed during lengthy reviews.
Rennie wants answers from World Rugby
Speaking after the match, Rennie questioned what would happen if a similar incident resulted in a penalty try.
As reported by Planet Rugby, the All Blacks boss said:
“If you went back to that, and let’s say, it was a penalty try, do you take the two minutes off that we’ve just lost in the game?”
The issue is expected to be discussed at World Rugby's Shape of the Game meeting in London next month.
Rennie made it clear that he had no complaints about Pearce's handling of the match.
Instead, his concern centres on whether teams could lose valuable playing time while officials review an incident.
It is not the first time New Zealand have raised officiating concerns with World Rugby, having previously questioned scrum decisions during their meetings with South Africa.
Pick your All Blacks XV:
Steve Smith's verdict
Rennie has a fair point, and I think he is right to question the process rather than the decision.
The officials reviewed the incident, decided Roigard had made a legitimate tackle and allowed play to continue. No problem there.
But imagine the same incident in a World Cup knockout match, with just minutes remaining and a team chasing the game.
If a lengthy review ends in a penalty try, should the attacking side also lose valuable time on the clock?
That is a question worth answering.
World Rugby has spent years trying to speed up the game. Making sure TMO reviews do not unfairly affect the time remaining should be part of that conversation.
Have your say: Should the match clock stop during lengthy TMO reviews?
