Differences between the two codes of rugby

[bear66]

Yeah this is the issue. All that discussion n mitigation and the subsequent red cards are killing the game. I'm not saying they aren't worthy I'm just saying they are damaging the game as a spectacle. As I pointed out in the OP league just isn't doing this at all and it's much more exciting for it. Should league follow suit?

I wish they were around when I played. I never played League so I don't know if there is a comparable risk.

 

[JackG]

Maybe they do when you're watching it on telly. When you're in a cold stand and all you can see is a ref holding his hand to his ear it's not so much fun.

I know things need to change, I'm just pointing out it's making watching the game worse. Much less fun

I'm hoping it's largely transitional. The refs have clearly been told to apply a zero-tolerance approach to dangerous play around the neck and head, as evidenced by the number of red cards in the last 6 nations. This goes against the move towards 'choke' tackling in recent years, where players go in high to prevent release, offloading etc. This 'skill' is now a very high-risk strategy if you want to stay on the pitch, and rightly so. Players and coaches should adapt fairly quickly - law changes are much more common in Union than most other sports.

 

[Malaguena]

It may be that way round yes. It's odd isn't it. I get it's a safety thing and head injuries are so serious but the new protocols are totally ruining the game of rugby. The time of stoppages and amount of red cards is just destroying games. I guess we just have to accept that the sport will be reduced in quality in the interests of safety

I take your point, but what's REALLY ruining Union is the number of tedious, unnecessary, TMO referrals taking place because referees don't have the courage to make or stand by decisions - I was watching Bordeaux v Bristol the other week and it was horrendous - there must have been eight or nine referrals with each one taking 4 or 5 minutes, examining the minutiae from every conceivable angle, the referee with his serious and concerned face on, and "can you just have a look at it AGAIN" etc etc etc before making his dramatic decision. It should be if the TMO can't see anything in 30s, field decision stands

Interestingly, and I guess not surprisingly, these referrals seem to happen less with the more experienced referees - Barnes, Poite etc