The Freddie Red-y - Will We Finally see some sense? Or Just Continue to See Red?

Recently, World Rugby introduced a measure, among others, to assist in speeding up the game. Basically, a referee can award a yellow card and the TMO then has eight minutes to review the incident to see whether it should be upgraded to a red.

I think that that is very sensible and we have already seen a couple of instances of it in Europe.

Then, today, Sir Steve Hansen comes out and says that red cards are likely to ruin the World Cup and advocated for the 20 minute replacement rule: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/sir-steve-hansen-isnt-sure-why-the-big-onus-is-on-red-cards-in-fight-for-player-safety/

Again, quite sensible.

I have always advocated for the fact that the game should be 15 on 15 for the full 80 (leaving aside the 10 minute yellow suspension).

https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/10/06/world-rugby-and-the-refs-are-killing-the-game/

& https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/07/09/seeing-red-need-even-playing-field/

Football (soccer) has a rule that two yellow cards means a red, and allows the player to play on, his fate to be decided later on by a Tribunal. Makes sense. 10 v 11 is likely to be far more harmful than 14 v 15.

The top international referees are all, mostly very experienced and we see them in action every week around the world (imagine the frequent flyer miles that the likes of Gus Gardner and Nick Berry are racking up!). So, these guys, by definition, and the likes of Wayne Barnes et al, should not be too concerned about losing their jobs or being ranked down over a wrong decision. They are people who are experienced enough to back themselves and they can fell more confident it they are not being put in difficult situations.

So, here are my suggestions:-

1. Do not allow referees to issue Red Cards - make that the sole province of the TMO, unless there is a blatant exercise of foul play, such as punching or rucking, or a tip tackle, where the Referee instantly sees it, or the TMO or the AR instantly bring it to the referees attention. Even then a Yellow should get the job done, in most situations.
2. Given that the Referee knows that the TMO has the 8 minutes to review the situation once a Yellow is given, then we can all be satisfied if the TMO then chimes in to escalate the card to Red.
3. World Rugby should then work with the host broadcaster to work out a protocol so that we don't have endless replays. Maybe the broadcaster employs five or six extra referees to sit in the studio/ TMO box (whatever) to assist the TMO so that they all look instantly at a different camera angle and point out the one that they feel the TMO should look at. Surely that could be done, relatively easily.
4. It is a World Cup after all, so the increased vigilance should be worth it. If it works, then do it for all major Test matches in the future.

I am sure that my erstwhile readers could probably come up with even more suggestions.