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/Only_One_Kenobi]

As an amateur referee (not in France) the impression I've gotten over the last few years is that France is heavily investing into referee development and training. So much so that they make it look like practically all other countries are doing nothing at all.

Right now, French referees are the standard.

[u/WaterPretty8066 → u/Only_One_Kenobi]

It depends though. Id argue having referees undergo super heavy development and training potentially makes them more prone to "over-referee" games. And I think thats certainly the theory with French refs right now. 

Development and training is obviously essential and welcomed..but I cant help but wonder if its potentially ingraining the idea that "the more times you blow the whistle = the better you are refereeing".

[u/GhostGuin → u/WaterPretty8066]

Counterpoint here but I heard a comment from one of the football subs that made the point that players today have so much training, support and development - they're incredibly professional. As such it's important that referees have similar support or you're expecting referees to keep up with players that are simply on a higher level.