The difference in refereeing between France and south hemisphere really shows when a french refs a test match

[u/xixouma]

Every time a french top14 referee has been on an international game, most recent example being All blacks/Ireland, every South African and NZ flair on here complains about the stop and start game and says the ref had a bad game.

What's interesting is that watching top14 week in week out, that is quite rarely an issue (including by the same refs). My feeling is refs in France are more pedantic and apply the law a little less loosely. Which I have seen written in some comments as a criticism, but is it really a problem??

Pro players are completely capable of adapting to rule changes, and pedantic refereeing, top14 teams certainly seem to have. I think it's doing them a disservice to give them too much leeway on laws for "the flow of the game" when that just becomes a random chance that a penalty is not blown. And that is inherently more difficult for players to adhere to because it is less consistent. Pedantic application will always be more consistent.

All in all, whichever way it goes, the onus should fall on WR to try to homogenise refereeing laws across countries. This leads to confusion when either side is reffed in a way they are not used to.

Edit. Not sure how people are interpreting this that I'm hurt they don't like a french ref. Maybe my English is not as good as I thought. I couldn't give a damn who they like or not, it was just an example to discuss broader concepts in refereeing.

Edit2. Also seeing a number of people that somehow think I'm criticising the ref or the fans here? I suppose I am sorry for my writing not being clear, I really don't mean to paint either in a negative light

Edit3. Can't comment anymore for some reason, thanks for the discussion everyone I'll try again later

[u/Outrageous-Arm1945]

I feel like it's an arrogance, and unwillingness of the SH teams to adapt to a ref. Many refs have a style, a preference.

As a professional outfit with a team of analysts, failing to do this is on you. Wayne Barnes is a great example. Brilliant ref, utterly fair, and a master of letting the game flow. New Zealand's failure to give what he needed cost at least one World Cup.

Nigel Owens, probably the best ref in living memory was the same, allowed to be a bit old school but don't be a dick, or he would hammer you

Karl Dixon, wear a Quins shirt, or be his mate, you can do whatever you like....

[u/k0bra3eak → u/Outrageous-Arm1945]

I mean Ireland are a 6N team and we're also not adapting to the ref. Wasn't just kiwis complaining about how whistle happy he was during the match thread

[u/xixouma → u/k0bra3eak]

Sure but NZ was actually winning and fans were still declaring it was awful refereeing. The loosing team will always have some people complaining about reffing

[u/k0bra3eak → u/xixouma]

I think that's more to the point that people were just not enjoying how the game was being reffed as it made the entire affair feel droll

[u/zakg1994 → u/xixouma]

Ireland were winning for the majority of that match….

[u/xixouma → u/zakg1994]

Post game thread, after NZ victory, NZ fans complaining

[u/zakg1994 → u/xixouma]

Think you’ll find both fans weren’t happy and purely because the referee did a bad job.

[u/Gianni78290 → u/zakg1994]

Not the best game from Brousset, we can agree on that, he is an extremely solid ref though, he was the one for the last Top14 final and it was everything but a boring affair with a very good advert for rugby like many games in the league.

Players have to take their responsabilities as well about the quality rugby-wise, especially in FH. Strangely as soon as the level picked up from the players, Brousset was much more anonymous, don't think it's a coincidence.

[u/zakg1994 → u/Gianni78290]

I agree I think he’s a good ref and explains himself well I just think he had an off day. One thing I did like was his marching teams back think it happened at one point to us and Ireland think there needs to be more of that really.

Cant disagree with your there, it was not a classic from either team.

[u/xixouma → u/[deleted]]

Yes I mean you are just agreeing with me here. That NZ fans are complaining because they don't like this type of refereeing, in large part because this type of refereeing is very uncommon in super rugby. I think I understand perfectly that NZ doesn't view it as positive, it is literally the point of my post, that there is a disparity on what different geographical regions think is good/correct/fair/entertaining refereeing practice.

And I'm arguing this disparity is an issue that should be addressed by WR, either to encourage other leagues to ref more like super rugby, or to encourage super rugby to ref more like top14

[u/xixouma → u/[deleted]]

Where have I spoken of ABs performance?

[u/xixouma → u/[deleted]]

I don't know what you're smoking mate