Rugby has to step into the modern era - at least trial it and see how the fans and players take to it.

Besides which it is another branding opportunity on the field for a sponsor!

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Of course this is a wonderful statement at the start of the competition signalling transparency and all that - but as he declared they would be measured.

You see John - the purpose is to provide a good free flowing game “with excitement and attack on the field” without controversy so SANZAR had declared they would focus on these 4 areas:

Tackled Ball:
“The tackler, once hitting the ground in the tackle, must release the ball and the ball carrier. This gives the ball carrier a chance to ‘play the ball’, and will tidy up the tackle-ball area which has previously been weighted towards the tackler. As well, any player involved in helping make a tackle, who is in contact with the ball carrier when he is taken to ground, must then release the ball, before then attempting to contest possession, even if he is on his feet. This ensures that in Super 14, we are truly refereeing the Law at the tackle, and it provides the ball carrier with his rights, having been tackled. After this tackle, any player then on his feet, in a position of strength (his side of the tackle) may then contest possession.”

Scrum engagement:
“The scrum engagement must follow a true sequence, starting with all props required to touch, on the touch call. Props must also have their head and shoulders above their hips, and then hit straight on engagement. This enhances the chance of the scrum being contestable, and to stay up resulting in less resets.”

Players in front of the kicker:
“Players will be forced to comply with standing still or retiring in relation to being in front of the kicker. This will see referees calling for a player to stop advancing - if he continues to advance, he will be penalised and players must retire from within 10m of the receiver of a kick - otherwise an immediate penalty will be given where these players look to contest the kick. The objective is that this will improve the time and space for players to counter attack, when receiving kicks in general play, and reducing some of the aerial ping pong people we have been seeing in rugby.”

Formation of the maul:
“At the time that a maul is formed, players supporting the ball carrier will not be allowed to obstruct the opposition. This is intended to at least make the maul defendable at the set up stage.” Bray said these initiatives are a return to the laws of the game and do not represent any change in law, but are simply limiting room for interpretation and should create clarity and certainty for coaches, players, officials and fans.

The question is then has SANZAR delivered this?

My view is that they and the referees have in large part, so I am not advocating putting the referees in the stocks and pelting them with tomatoes, but also recognising performance that delivers the quality of the game, game after game after game.

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At least do a little research before you embarrass yourself.

Also, please send a letter to Walsh, Pollock and Lawrence and tell them they are cheats. Or better yet, phone them and tell them your sentiments.

Do not forget to enlighten them with your exceptional knowledge of the rules of the game and your vast experience as a referee on the field. You should also furnish them with tips from said vast experience on how they can improve and how those tips helped you to improve as a referee.

Then, just to set an example, please publish your last three performance appraisals here.

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Certain players are renowned “professional fowlers”, who are only really included to harras refs, and disrupt the “flow” of the game - such players should be to reiterate red carded, and even perhaps should suffer lengthy suspensions - at the discretion of carefully-considered post-match investigations. Often, spoiling tactics are often tactfully deployed outside of kicking range, and here, one could introduce a mandatory free kick for poles on the kick-off mark of the half way line - this would act as a definite deterent. Refs who are swayed by “popular revolt/pressure” (against what is rule!) should also be heavily sanctioned - the game is presently under serious threat from “psychological warfare”.

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