THE opening weekend has thrown up everything, including one of the biggest upsets in sport history in Brighton, but there is still an elephant in the room.

Over-zealous use of the television match official (TMO) has been highly criticised, despite new technology promising to speed the game up.

On the opening night in Twickenham, South African Jaco Peyper couldn't go ten minutes without calling his countryman in the box and the problem continued into day two of the World Cup.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt feared it could lead to injury and his Georgia counterpart Milton Haig warning that viewers may decide to switch off.

The discontent began during Friday's opener between England and Fiji, a match that saw the clock stopped for a total of 10 minutes and eight seconds as Peyper referred six incidents to the TMO for closer inspection.

The interruptions robbed the game of momentum and fuelled debate over the negative impact the TMO had on the spectacle, although each time Peyper sought clarification the correct decision was made.

On one occasion the South African awarded a try to Fiji scrum-half Nikola Matawalu and just as the conversion was about to be taken, he spotted on the big screen that the scrum-half had dropped the ball over the line and reversed his judgement.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: "I wasn't linked up with the chat between the referee and the TMO, but one thing I will say is that I was quite pleased he did when their scrum half dropped the ball over the line and the try was disallowed.

"It's part and parcel of the game and I think we want to see accurate decisions, so players just need to get on with it."

His opposite number John McKee was just as receptive, and said: "Look, I think it's frustrating for everyone when those decisions take a little while, but it's part of the game and the officials have to get the decisions right.

"So it probably helps for a better result."

But opposition to use of the TMO was evident at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday when loud boos greeted the decision by referee Glen Jackson to refer Ireland's third try, by Jonathan Sexton, in their 50-7 rout of Canada.

The correct decision was made swiftly, but Jackson's failure to make a routine call displeased the crowd. Schmidt broadly welcomes TMO intervention, but retains some misgivings.

"I think you want to get the right decision so it's great the TMO is available for that," Schmidt said.

"Someone told me that the first half of the England game lasted 53 minutes and I'm not sure that's what we're looking for. Hopefully that's going to be the exception not the rule. Hopefully we can keep it in context.

"For foul play and deciding tries it's proven its worth, but hopefully games will survive on their own merits and it won't need to be used so often.

"And hopefully the game will keep going as well because there's nothing worse than players having long, disruptive periods.

"Those periods mean they tend to slow down a bit, cool down a bit and it makes them more susceptible to soft tissue injuries."

Tonga were disappointed that Viliami Ma'afu had a try disallowed by Nigel Owens in their 17-10 upset by Georgia at Kingsholm without first consulting the TMO.

Replays subsequently revealed a marginal call.

Haig, Georgia's coach, offered a slightly different view and a warning over the impact the delays could have on the sport.

"I think you will find that it is probably going to impact on people viewing the game. We don't want to turn into American gridiron, that's for sure," Haig said.

"I suppose it is just a necessary evil. I understand where World Rugby are coming from, trying to make sure they make the right decisions.

"You have got to take the good with the bad, and it is just a matter of balance, really."

There was no technological party pooping in Brighton, however, as Karne Hesketh's last-gasp try was given instantly to complete the biggest upset in rugby history as South Africa were beaten 34-32 by Japan.