Play to the Whistle, the Northern or Southern one.

On Wednesday 9th January we played Ivybridge in the National Cup Quarter Final on Bigside.With two society linesman more attention was focussed on the possible infringements during the game. The breakdown was hotly contested and hence threw up many penalties. In rugby at the minute there's huge debate over the panoply of interpretations within world rugby.
The referee on Wednesday was extremely strict at the breakdown. For example, any contact on the floor with the hands in an attempt to jackal was deemed to be 'off feet' and conversely when we were attacking it only took a second without a clearer to be holding on. It meant that we had to be more conservative with our play, but only before Christmas against Cranleigh the referee was less strict and so we could take more risks at the breakdown.
This issue is also prevalent in the wider game. Northern Hempishere refereeing is stricter at the breakdown focussing on abiding by the Laws of the game whereas in the Southern Hempishere the officiating  is more fluid, which is reflected in the faster pace of the game. For the 1st test of the 2017 Lions tour Peyper, a South African, took charge and the Lions struggled. But for the last 2 tests Frenchmen took charge which aided the Lions in the officiating of the scrummage and breakdown allowing players like Faletau and O'Brien to disrupt the breakdown and hence the All Black attack.
The laws and their interpretations will always cause controversy but that is sport, where refereeing can improve is the consistency, whether about tackle heights or the breakdown as we are at risk of turning into the  Football culture of referee disrespect by players and fans.

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