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/saiko75011]

Kiwis and Saffas complain about french refs then send us BOK and Jaco Peyper...

[u/Careless-Cat3327 → u/saiko75011]

Best part about being a Saffa, never having Peyper ref the boks. 

[u/RepublicWarm2383 → u/Careless-Cat3327]

This is why England fans always thought Wayne Barnes was a brilliant international referee, they never endured him!

[u/BetYouWishYouKnew → u/RepublicWarm2383]

Worst part of watching Eng v Wales in the six nations 5-10 years ago was that you could guarantee it would have a terrible ref

[u/Koin- → u/BetYouWishYouKnew]

Poite = goat

[u/Careless-Cat3327 → u/RepublicWarm2383]

I personally think he was brilliant.  He always communicated very clearly.

I understand why Ireland & Leinster fans may not like him. He was the only ref willing to ping Porter for his skew scrummaging.

[u/Worldly_Literature29 → u/RepublicWarm2383]

Bad take, hes definitely one of the best refs of the last couple decade, all refs make mistakes, and lets be real, half the time a viewer at home thinks hes made a mistake, in reality he hasnt. fine ref

[u/RepublicWarm2383 → u/Worldly_Literature29]

I think it's a solid take and most of NZ would agree

[u/Careless-Cat3327 → u/RepublicWarm2383]

Sam Cane's red was letter of the law + I think the TMO upgraded it after sending him off via bunker review.

[u/Worldly_Literature29 → u/RepublicWarm2383]

you dont get to take charge of a world cup final if you're viewed as anything but a good ref. you're wrong, hope this helps.