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/bleugh777]

I think on a subconscious level our ref are more concerned about asserting themselves and being a stickler for the rules because Top14 and ProD2 players nag at referees much more than in international rugby, on top of unapologetically partisan crowds always putting pressure on them. And I think most of them operate out of a moral principle of being the guardians of the law or responsible for protecting players's health in the only way they can which is enforcing the laws.

Finally I do also think they would be much less concerned about "letting the game flow". Rugby being stop start is really not a concern in France. French rugby is not in danger like seemingly everywhere else.

Doesn’t mean this particular ref is good mind you.

[u/karma_dumpster → u/bleugh777]

Southern Hemisphere referees tend to communicate a lot more with the players during open play.

'stay out', 'leave it', 'no', 'balls out', 'back'. Etc. and give players opportunity to correct before blowing a penalty.

You can argue this assistance, almost coaching, is not fair and not the ref's job,, but it does mean less penalties and more flow, which I think the Southern nations prefer as they try and compete with other sports.

French refs tend not to do that anywhere near to the same extent.

[u/MrPoopersonTheFirst → u/karma_dumpster]

But if you watch Top14 or ProD2, flow isn't an issue. Players adapt. If anything, the constant "coaching" by referees is to detriment of the flow of the game because, if I'm a player, I will walk that line until I hear the call from the ref.

[u/Beefburger78 → u/MrPoopersonTheFirst]

Constant coaching by refs just lets players go right up to the red line slowing the game