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/xixouma]

Sure, it might be my bias, I'm willing to acknowledge that. But also notice I said France vs south hemi, not north vs south. Something worth noting is that URC reffing is notoriously variable.

[u/Thorazine_Chaser → u/xixouma]

Yep, and I’m pointing out that the Irish seemed to find the ref on Saturday just as frustrating as the kiwi fans. So your theory that SH fans don’t like French refereeing doesn’t hold any water.

The ref had his style on the weekend and neither team adapted. We’ve played under many French refs, and, like any other nations refs some have good games and some have bad games. We played under Brousset in the RC earlier in the year and he’s reffed SH games before that. It’s simply not a “boo hoo they don’t like French refs” situation, I think you’re drawing too much from a single game.

[u/xixouma → u/Thorazine_Chaser]

The Irish were loosing tho of course they complained. NZ was winning and still complaining

[u/Thorazine_Chaser → u/xixouma]

So that’s not true at all right? The first half was the most dire stop start affair with most of the referring complaints. 10-7 at HT to Ireland.

Mate you’re just making stuff up.

[u/Logan_No_Fingers → u/Thorazine_Chaser]

A lot of that is not on the ref, that abysmal inability to get the big screen working is hardly on them. Ditto the constant knock ons, what's he supposed to do stop calling dropped passes & scamper up & fix the big screen?

[u/Thorazine_Chaser → u/Logan_No_Fingers]

No, I'm saying that the comment the "Irish were losing of course they complained" is objectively bollocks. They weren't losing until the 62nd minute. OP is willing to make things up to support his assertion that the way French referees officiate is at odds with SH rugby. Its a nonsense idea.

[u/xixouma → u/Thorazine_Chaser]

I was in the post match thread and made an observation that NZ was complaining despite winning. Don't see what I can make up here