The breakdown is putting me off rugby at this time

[Part of the union]

I grew up playing league and rugby. Rugby for me became the better game because with the game came a great social atmosphere that I never found while playing league. In my heart of hearts I would have to say right now league has the better product. The introduction of the second ref has allowed the game to flow and kept teams on side. In rugby, not only are teams offside so much, but the breakdown is so inconsistent in terms of rulings by the refs. Tri Nations has seen guys piling into rucks from the side and often nothing happens and then someone is pinged. The other issue is players not rolling away. Sometimes they are punished and sometimes nothing happens at all. It slows the game down so much. I won't comment on scrum rulings as I have never played up front but I do find some of the rulings confusing.

Maybe it is time two officals were on the ground at the same time.

 

[barbarian]

Welcome PotU. Good post, I think it sums up a lot of attitudes towards rugby at the moment. The refereeing is confusing and rulings change from ruck-to-ruck and week-to-week. Being a die hard fan I don't mind a bit of debate on rules and refs, but I can understand how annoying that must be to a regular sports fan.

However, I disagree two refs is the answer. Two refs works in league because the duties of a league ref involve two main pillars- the ruck and offside. To watch and adjudicate on these two facets is very difficult with the 10m rule, as it requires refs to be back 10m and at an angle to the ruck. Rugby obviously doesn't have this rule, and thus it is quite easy to watch the ruck and offside at the same time.

I think also the greater involvement of touch judges serves as the second ref, watching and communicating with the ref if he misses anything. One ref is confusing enough for me.

 

[Scarfman]

Cheers PotU. It is weird that the touchies got remaned assistant referees, but don't seem to be using their authority much. At the very least, you could run things like soccer, where the touchies are responsible for offside. They just stick their flag in the air and the ref blows it up.

Regarding piling into rucks from all angles, lying on the ball, I have no idea why things have suddenyl loosened up in this area. Penalise them into the stone age.

 

[naza]

I couldn't agree with you more. Its a deadset farce, especially with the All Blacks. Kaino will be there not rolling away, McCaw off his feet with his hands on the ball, and then So'oialo tackling guys not bound to the ruck without the ball. Use the yellow instead of warning teams 20 times. They are professionals, they know the rules. They are just taking the piss.

Incidentally, the cynicism is a big factor in why in Australian rugby schoolboy matches draw bigger crowds than club rugby.

 

[cyclopath]

Couple of observations from last night's test (just watching it now).
Rolland clearly not so bothered by tightheads binding on the arm - both are doing it every scrum. His major offence du jour seems to be feeds not straight. (Do they just pull 1 offence out of the hat each week and then go for it?).
Also at 22 mins the ball goes over the AB goal line, and there are at least 2 Bokke reserves SITTING in the in-goal, and they don't farkin move, despite being only 2-3 m from the play. WTF is going on with that? Love to see the ruling if the ball had hit one of them. Really the officials should tell them to get the fark off the field.

 

[Pfitzy]

Rugby obviously doesn't have this rule, and thus it is quite easy to watch the ruck and offside at the same time.

Disagree with that to a degree - if the ref gets too close to the ruck and watches either the blindside or openside out of the corner of his eye, over the top of the ruck, he'll miss offside play a lot of the time.

 

[louie]

what i love about rugby is the contest. with in the backline, lineout, scrum kicking etc.
rugby league is boring. its the same thing each time. the run 5 times then kick it.
the new rules are bring more shape back to the game.
i love rugby atm.

 

[formeropenside]

Its a simple answer to bring back real rucking, but no one wants to actually do it.

 

[Scarfman]

Shape? The rucks are shaped like a dog's turd at the moment.

People talked about cynicism with the ELVs - players could infringe without serious penalty. Well, with the ELVs gone, sides are now trying to get downtown just to milk a penalty.

It'll be interesting to compare the number of tries last year v this year.

 

[barbarian]

Rugby obviously doesn't have this rule, and thus it is quite easy to watch the ruck and offside at the same time.

Disagree with that to a degree - if the ref gets too close to the ruck and watches either the blindside or openside out of the corner of his eye, over the top of the ruck, he'll miss offside play a lot of the time.

Agree that can happen, especially in suburban or club rugby. But at international level the refs are good enough to do it well, plus they have the TJ's as support for looking at offside lines. So it's probably not 'quite easy' but is certainly doable.

 

[disco]

Its a simple answer to bring back real rucking, but no one wants to actually do it.

Yep

Use the yellow instead of warning teams 20 times.

Yep

If you could go the shoe on offending players hands it's a cert that they will release & then the ref just needs to give about a 7-10 phase advantage & if nothing comes of the advantage give 2 warnings & then nothing but yellow cards for the rest of the game.

 

[Blue]

Half the problem lies with the refs. Get tough early on and things will get a lot better. Case in pount this past weekend. AB's should have had one in the bin after 10 minutes in the first half and again in the second. They were playing with a complete disrespect for the rules and the ref didn't have the balls.

Agree the breakdown is a concern but if you like to just see people passing the ball with no contest for it you will always prefer league. Leaguies watch Unions expecting to see the same constant sweeping passing back and forth across the paddock until someone screws up the defense or until a taller bloke manages to gather a kick and score.

If that's what you like you will always be "disappointed" with rugby.

 

[fatprop]

Yeah,

Unfortunately I think Goddard may have had the right idea, bin early and bin often until they wake up. The ref gave lots of warnings and 30 minutes into the game the ABs & Boks were still at it.

Bakies needed to go for his cynical close off, as did 3 or 4 ABs.

 

[Blue]

Yeah,

Unfortunately I think Goddard may have had the right idea, bin early and bin often until they wake up. The ref gave lots of warnings and 30 minutes into the game the ABs & Boks were still at it.

Bakies needed to go for his cynical close off, as did 3 or 4 ABs.

He warned the AB's after 20. They continued to infringe for another 60. He never warned the Boks until very late in the game. Should have carded the ABs early for cynical play at the ruck and constant obstructions at kickoff and when they put up kicks.

Didn't have the balls to pull a card.

 

[fatprop]

Yeah,

Unfortunately I think Goddard may have had the right idea, bin early and bin often until they wake up. The ref gave lots of warnings and 30 minutes into the game the ABs & Boks were still at it.

Bakies needed to go for his cynical close off, as did 3 or 4 ABs.

He warned the AB's after 20. They continued to infringe for another 60. He never warned the Boks until very late in the game. Should have carded the ABs early for cynical play at the ruck and constant obstructions at kickoff and when they put up kicks.

Didn't have the balls to pull a card.

To me there are times when no warning should necessary.

The ABs were hot on attack and Bakkies dove in from the side and killed the ball, he should have been in the bin with a few ABs

 

[Blue]

Yeah,

Unfortunately I think Goddard may have had the right idea, bin early and bin often until they wake up. The ref gave lots of warnings and 30 minutes into the game the ABs & Boks were still at it.

Bakies needed to go for his cynical close off, as did 3 or 4 ABs.

He warned the AB's after 20. They continued to infringe for another 60. He never warned the Boks until very late in the game. Should have carded the ABs early for cynical play at the ruck and constant obstructions at kickoff and when they put up kicks.

Didn't have the balls to pull a card.

To me there are times when no warning should necessary.

The ABs were hot on attack and Bakkies dove in from the side and killed the ball, he should have been in the bin with a few ABs

Can't recall the specific incident but in principle I agree. There is a lot of cynical play these days.