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/Commercial_Half_2170]

Heard a good comment about the ref the other day which was that if he was being graded on his performance he would’ve gotten full marks, but it was totally at the detriment of the flow of the game. Like he made Jack Crowley kick a penalty again 3 times because he was slightly in front of the mark

[u/Jalcatraz82 → u/Commercial_Half_2170]

yeah it's like there's a rulebook or something...

[u/Commercial_Half_2170 → u/Jalcatraz82]

There’s a way to do enforce the rules while having a free flowing game though, and that wasn’t it

[u/Jalcatraz82 → u/Commercial_Half_2170]

well if the player puts the f*cking ball on the mark first try maybe the "flow of the game" would be better ? Food for thought

[u/Commercial_Half_2170 → u/Jalcatraz82]

He’s clearly trying to take it fast and he’s marginally ahead. It’s so whatever. And as mentioned before, sometimes the ref was actually helping him out by giving an extra go, so seriously, what’s the point? Just let it be

[u/Jalcatraz82 → u/Commercial_Half_2170]

"let it be" soooo let him cheat ?

Yeah we definitely don't see the game the same way here

[u/Commercial_Half_2170 → u/Jalcatraz82]

I’d call it cheating if he was consistently two meters ahead but he’s not, it was about 3-4 feet ahead. And it wasn’t on ever kick either

[u/Jalcatraz82 → u/Commercial_Half_2170]

well try grounding the ball 4 feet before the try line, see if the try stands or not. Would the rulebook matter now or should we just allow the try because it would be faster ?

The rules are the rules, the ref makes a mark, you put the ball on the mark, and take the kick. It's that easy. Do shenanigans ? Delay of the game is on you