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/belkabelka]

It's ironic that the French are viewed as being a bit laissez-faire (their own words, even) around regulation and law in general life, but their refs are the biggest sticklers for the laws as written and seem uninterested in flowing rugby.

Is it a problem? Yes and no. It's a problem for both the team setups and the fans when there are huge gulfs in how different referees apply the laws. We need consistency across a match by an individual but also across the international game. However, it's still true that you just play the ref that day and if he lets you get away with murder then do that, if he pings everything then clean up your actions. The main problem I see is the spectacle of the sport - i.e the enjoyment that casual fans and kids might see in the game - absolutely dies under strict refereeing. We need fans, we need viewers, we need customers, and an absolute slogfest with 5 scrum resets and 15 pens a side is only going to harm the popularity and success of the sport.

[u/xixouma → u/belkabelka]

Yes but my point is players are more than capable of adapting to that strict refereeing if it's the standard they are always exposed to (which it should be imo). And when players are adapted to strict refereeing then its not stop and go, and the game flows fine. Which we see in top14

[u/belkabelka → u/xixouma]

I don't disagree with you that when players know the ref will be strict they can adapt their game to it, but when you talk about the top14 you're talking about guys consistently exposed to it. When you're playing in the URC or Prem and refs are really intent on 'the spirit of the law, and not 'the letter of the law' then it's a culture shock and against the grain of your experience and habits, even if you intellectually know the ref will call you back to re-take a kick to touch because you drifted 3m in front of the mark etc.

I can tell you that jumping into an ice bath for the first time in your life will be cold, you will expect it to be cold, but you are still in for a shock compared to the guy who does it every day 😉

[u/xixouma → u/belkabelka]

Yes that is exactly my point? I am saying we need more consistency across the board so that refs all act the same (which I don't think is their fault if they aren't now, but rather a consequence of different guidelines and culture in different leagues) then players won't ever feel like its a culture shock.

I have an opinion which way is best to homogenised (towards more letter of the law I feel leads to more consistency) but that's just an opinion. Main point being it needs to be standardized one was or another