In 141 Super Rugby matches this year there were 143 yellow cards. That’s an average of one a game and an increase of 49 on the 2016 tally of 94.
The desire to remove cynical and foul play with tougher sanctions is of course honourable. Greater penalties for head contact will make the game safer, but with an average of a yellow card a match is the fairness of the contest and the quality of the spectacle being reduced by over cautious officiating?
Removing a player is a penalty that carries huge consequences. It opens up more space in the opposition defence and saps the energy of others as it forces each individual to work harder.
It’s not a surprise five of the six least disciplined teams in 2017 finished in the bottom third of the competition. Would the Lions have really drawn the series against the All Blacks if the latter wasn’t reduced to 14 players for 65 minutes?
The referees aren’t entirely at fault for the proliferation of cards. They are under instructions from lawmakers to be vigilant and not consider intent. There job is tough and with decreasing numbers of referees at grassroots level, I am reluctant to be too critical. However there must be a way of being vigilant and retaining 15 players on 15.
In the NRL only 36 players have been sin binned this year and even that is remarkably high. The harsher laws around slapping the ball down have seen more players sin binned in 2017 than the previous two years combined. Granted rugby is less structured and has more intricate laws, but the NRL invariably remains numerically even.
Australian rules football has flourished for 120 years without cards. Acts of foul play have occurred, but been dealt with by the judiciary. Rugby has a judiciary. Why not increase the penalties for foul play at the judiciary? Perhaps players and even franchises can be fined for abuse of the laws.
Could rugby adopt football’s yellow card system where a yellow card would be a serious warning and red cards are issued sparingly?
Why not make greater use of the penalty try? If a team repeatedly infringes a penalty try could be rewarded regardless of where play is on the field. Conceding points would be a massive deterrent.
Beauden Barrett was sent off for the Hurricanes against the Waratahs for slapping the ball down twice and then yellow carded in the semi-final for sealing off the ball. These aren’t malicious acts. Why not reward a penalty try instead of depriving millions of spectators the chance to watch the world’s best player? As a shareholder in the game we want to see the best players on the field the whole time.
The issuing of cards in rugby has become to arbitrary and pedantic. If on average every game sees a player carded teams should start training with 14 men to better prepare themselves for the inevitable card. If that happens the the rules are flawed even before kick-off.
Rugby needs to discuss how to keep the players on the field while retaining a safe and entertaining spectacle. Rugby is a 15-man sport.
zhenry
Guest
Written from iPhone so not best expression. No 'Oracle' instead of cards we use fines and judiciary, think it's worth trying. A bit outside square I know. OK for prof rugby but amateur rugby will need form of cards - red card used very sparingly with replacement player from bench. I see no point in punishing whole team for one players fault. We should have the flexibility to juggle for best outcome, it will take time.
Machooka
Roar Guru
I want to know more about... 'it's women's fault for exciting men by wearing revealing clothing. Anyway, I think you know what I mean.' And is this like... 'nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean?'
sheek
Roar Guru
Well, if you are blaming them for leaving their feet, then it's like blaming women for exciting men for wearing revealing clothes. Anyway, the comparison makes sense to me. Players must be allowed to continue to jump to catch. But they also have to be aware of the consequences. Which probably relates back to my female compassion as well!!!
terry tavita
Roar Rookie
people are losing patience with red cards and mismatches in the big games..a few more in the big matches and people will start walking away..you want a safe job, go be a plumber..
ClarkeG
Guest
But if the law is removed just sit back and watch the consequences.
ClarkeG
Guest
And only the 2nd against the Waratahs the officials got right.
piru
Roar Rookie
I think if hockey players went to the bin for 10 on their first trip and to the showers on their second it would be a lot less common. We could do a lot worse than imitate the way American sports treat their refs - you very, very rarely hear complaining or singling out of referees in the major league sports shows and surrounding media. The last time I can remember it happening majorly was the 'immaculate reception' (Seattle vs Green Bay) when the replacement refs were running things during the pay dispute.
ClarkeG
Guest
Yes Kane...I agree with that. Sometimes we hear referees warn players for doing exactly that but I can't recall too many, if any, players being penalised for it. As it turned out Jerry that was quite an important penalty. What I thought about that penalty was that the referee showed little or no no interest in what was happening there until Webb threw the ball into Crockett's bottom.
piru
Roar Rookie
Agreed Markus, also the reward for a clean mark in AFL is so much greater than in rugby that players are focused on the ball. You can't level a bloke when he comes down with it, so might as well be competing for it.
ClarkeG
Guest
My point was that a consequence would be that defenders will attempt to strike the ball from the ball carriers grasp - striking with arm or punching - irrespective of whether or not they are attempting a tackle. So you are suggesting I can knock a ball intentionally forward from a ball carriers grasp (open hand only) but not punch it intentionally forward from a ball carriers grasp. That's just making the referee's job harder. Best leave as it is at present..i.e it is a penalisable offence to intentionally knock the ball forward.
Harry Jones
Expert
Nope! Just on kick contests. Stay on terra firma. Aerial contests are too risky. Lineouts are well-adjudicated. Of course you'll jump for a bad pass.
Markus
Guest
Just pointing out that the rules regarding contest for a mark in AFL are far more intricate and daresay pedantic than those currently in rugby. You don't really see these reckless tackle attempts on players in the air specifically because the contest is so strictly managed and referee'd from the onset.
Jacko
Guest
Jock even at club level League is a thugs game...I watch a bit of club stuff and the guys are constantly putting in the niggle...attempting to hurt will silly stuff....League is about playing the man...Union about playing the ball...
Jacko
Guest
The rubbish process that saw SBW available for the first Bledisloe is another case of shelving the protection of the player for the sake of the spectacle….and the gate. Yes getting 4 weeks...then 7...then 4 matches...then 6 weeks...what a farce.....Then they come out and give Smith from the Lions.....wait for it....4 weeks Will Smiths suspension be increased to 7 weeks or 4 matches? I have my doubts as its 1 rule for some and one rule for others eh?
Jacko
Guest
Bakkies he got 2 yellows...Meaning no offence was worthy of a red.....Be Jelous of BB all you like but 2 yellows for slap-downs is hardly worthy of any suspension is it? Where as a straight red will not be for a small indiscretion like ball slapping...Taking people out in the air? now that is a straight red
Jacko
Guest
I want to see the YC being 10 mins...Ben Smiths WC final YC was 13+ mins before he was back on the field...Just let the player enter from the back of the field after they have done their time
Jacko
Guest
CUW what no 10 has a 99% kicking record?
Jacko
Guest
It does not seem smart to me...Are you banning jumping at lineout time...They get as high as a fullback does? Banning running fast would achieve the same result as slow collisions dont hurt and you cant jump high when walking...Ban kickin in the air as you dont jump for a ball on the ground...Ban high passes so players dont have to jump up to receive them....Ban rugby too eventually Just get consistant reffing
Jacko
Guest
So punish a SUB who isnt even on the field because his team mate did the wrong thing? The problem is that for every ying there is a yang
Jacko
Guest
So you have a guy who will never make the test side or never be offered big $$ OS who can take out an opposition player in a Final...get a fine and be suspended for 4 games...But stay on the field in the final...win the game and he will forever have a SR title to his name...How is the Fines and Bans a deterrant in his case?