Stop cheating players in rugby by suspending offenders
Roar Pro
By mitzter, 8 Feb 2010 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
I am unaware if a system such as this has been discussed on The Roar but I propose a system of suspension for cheating players rather than simply penalising them for repeat infringements.
Firstly, refereeing rugby is hard. There are so many things going on, and so quickly, that a referee simply can’t observe everything.
Unfortunately because of this, it’s a primordial soup for cheating. Players are encouraged to find the line of the referee and play a little past that. Of course players would try to do this, and typically chances are you won’t get caught.
Now, I’ve seen some bad refereeing, as everyone has, even at the international level. Some referees simply don’t seem to understand the flow of the game or understand scrums, or they entirely miss offsides.
But I don’t blame referees entirely for this, given the reasons previously stated.
I propose a system of suspension for cheating players. Obviously, it would need a trial and something like Super 14/15 would be ideal (international standard players in a league format).
The system is as follows:
a. games to be video reviewed afterwards by another referee than the one who reffed the match
b. at a ruck or other formation, the assessor is looking for the first infringement to take place (target on the tackler rolling away first, then the ball released, then arriving players staying on their feet)
c. ignore the infringement if the refereeing had spotted it and awarded a penalty, then:
d. 1 point is issued for each infringement, and maybe 3 in the red zone; if a player reaches 10 points for a game they are suspended for one match (I would probably grace them with a warning when this system is first introduced)
e. The assessor publicly expresses what is wrong with a player’s practice so that everyone can learn what is required.
This is just a thought, as maybe we can clean up the breakdown and scrums with a system like this. I would love to hear what you think.
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ohtani's jacket said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:21am | Report comment
Not in favour for the simple reason that I’m sick of things being trialled.
mitzter said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:29am | Report comment
Now now OJ that’s a very cynical view!
At least trial wouldn’t be watered down like the ELVs
Daniel J said | February 8th 2010 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
OJ loves trials, at least the last one in the 90′s boooya
ohtani's jacket said | February 8th 2010 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
Yeah, but they’d trial it for a year and then decide they need to trial something else… until finally they decide to trial no trials for a trial period.
Daniel J said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
so they would do that for a trial?
Ora said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:44am | Report comment
That is ludicrous, in every sport in the world the boundaries are pushed to the limit, and it is a sign of a good player and a good team if they can get away with pushing those limits.
Maybe we should start suspending inept officials after all it is their job to stamp cheating out isn’t it.
mitzter said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Ora
Inept officials are suspended, not as much as i would like but they are and every ruck is analysed already to determine their accuracy.
But players who continually push the limits are one of the reasons rugby can sometimes be unwatchable. What’s a ref to do when both teams want to play past the limits – keep blowing penalties and we have yet another boring @rse penalty shootout game
Ora said | February 8th 2010 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
When was the last time a ref was suspended apart from that plonker who officiated in the Hurricanes and Bulls match.
Refs are making disastrous calls every day, the players are only doing what the ref is allowing them to do so its about time the IRB started sorting out the officials
Bay35Pablo said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:47am | Report comment
OJ & katzilla, I figured you’d say that. Can’t have Richie McCaw getting caught after avoiding the first ref can we ….
ohtani's jacket said | February 8th 2010 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Ha, the assessor would quickly discover that Richie McCaw never infringes… he’s just that quick.
katzilla said | February 9th 2010 @ 3:38am | Report comment
Richie McCaw would be up in the Video room smooth talkin the video ref and the video ref would find nothing wrong ever.
If that fails Richie will put his hands all over the tape not allowing it to come out of the video machine thereby stopping the refs from using said tape.
All above board of course.
Mr Mac said | February 8th 2010 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Has some merit
Actually I would suggest 2 points & 3 in the red zone but -1 if already penalised.
soapit said | February 8th 2010 @ 11:59am | Report comment
i’d prefer to have a dedicated ref up in the stands just watching the offside (on a screen maybe) and free up the on field ref. you could hook them up easily. on field ref and touchies are to busy to be watching this line every second and it only take a second to sneak forward.
gotta start keeping them honest. might not need to change any rules if we strictly enforce the ones we have
ExpatSin said | February 8th 2010 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
Lets face facts boys. Changing legislation in the real world does not stop infringements from be perpetrated, so why should it here. I agree with soapit, we need to enforce the existing rules. That leads to Ora’s comment. We need consistent interpretation of the law to promote acceptable behavior by the players. One final point and I agree with OJ, let’s let some other rugby playing league trial new laws or interpretations of the same ones in place now. I for one am sick of that also. That said, bring on the Super 14.
Damo said | February 8th 2010 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
I’m with you Bay. Some people like the system just the way it is thanks. They reckon rugby’s perfect while the Bledisloe is on the right side of the Tasman. Two out of three Auckland Bledisloe games (2007 and 2009) ruined by referees missing way too much. Even my Kiwi mates reckon the team from New Zealand were very ‘fortunate’ in 2007 at least.
Ora, I think you are missing the point. Did not the article point to the sheer impossibility of a referee catching every (or even the first) infringement at any point in a match. The issue is that we have sides cynically exploiting the fact that the man with whistle has only two eyes and one point of view at any one time.
You guys might be rapt about that. Others like to see the game made into more of a skill contest than a cheat contest. Looking forward to an original response regarding the improvement of the great game of rugby.
mattamkII said | February 8th 2010 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
The big issue is that they cant really make big changes like that unless it can flow through to club footy. And well, this cant be used at anything other than top level.
Sure the TMO is used now and doesn’t reach grass roots …but that’s a no brainer.
Ora said | February 8th 2010 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
Damo I am not missing the point reality is like you say the ref can’t see it all so the players well the good players will exploit this where they can, thats what a smart player does.
What i am hearing here is sookie baba rubbish that people like yourself are saying we only won the bledisloe in 07 an 09 because we cheated and got away with it.
Funny that because I bet your one of the first people to tell All Black fans to get over the forward pass in the 07 quarter final, or even yet I’d say your one of the types who say that we should’ve been good enough to win even with the forward pass right????
So before making such lewd statements have a think about what you and Bay are saying because the same could be said in relation to Australias pathetic performances of late especiallty against the All Blacks.
Maybe the Wallabies should take up a few sessions with haddin on how to cheat and get away with it
Hammer said | February 8th 2010 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
Why not just do what was common in the schoolyard – give the Wallabies a 10.5 point start …
Jameswm said | February 8th 2010 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
Great idea.
Who has a spare ABs match on tape, to go back and tally up McCaw’s points?
Don’t forget the bit about releasing the tackled player before you get to your feet and play the ball – his single biggest push of the rules. He made an art form out of that one (not letting the tackled player play the ball) and the refs seldom spotted it.
The general NZ one is having blockers in the pillar position in front of an attacking ruck, blocking defenders. The defenders would push the gridiron style blockers out of the way and sometimes get penalised!
We Aussies never break any of the laws, of course.
Ora said | February 8th 2010 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
No Aussies never break the rules ever they should be called the Saints….
How absolutely ridiculous this debate is.
If they concentrated on playing the match as much as they do about bitc@ing they might start winning a few more matches.
Funny thing how it’s never their fault that they lose it’s always the ref, someone cheating, the planets weren’t aligned get a grip and start playing rugby and quit the rubbish excuses.
katzilla said | February 9th 2010 @ 3:42am | Report comment
‘Who has a spare ABs match on tape, to go back and tally up McCaw’s points? ‘
Every Flanker in the world worth his salt has that video tape