Stop the clock: Calling time on rugby union

Yes rugby union is getting ridiculous as the years gone by. I applauded the French referee for making that call and it was spot on correct! When there is penalty, the awarded to, have a little meeting, and they kick it out they have another little meeting, if the rugby union get rid off it , the game might still come alive. Northern hemisphere is the worst one in making the game slow and stupid!

No, no, no, no, no. This is the argument that leads to League. Which yes has lots of time in play but the game is so boring. Everyone is the same size and everyone has similar skills. Stop listening to the leaguies saying that sport is about time in play. American football which is worth more than both has hardly any time in play . Union is about physical contest. That requires some rest time. Enjoy the rest time. Good opportunity to grab a beer, chat about the game and enjoy the experience.

Disagree. Time wasting happens for 2 reasons. To rest and run down the last few mins in close games. So of course this only happened at 79 mins. There was clear instructions. Doesn't matter who was best team for 79 mins. Play to the rules or risk the consequences.

As soon as you stop the clock the game drags even further as it turns into gridiron. The best rugby games are the ones played at pace. Where players tire and defences break. All going in the wrong direction right now. Maybe Saturday was a watershed moment.

Call it time wasting, call it getting a breather, gamesmanship….. yes it is a problem. But to act on in the 79th minute when there had been plenty of incidents before is just min-blowing and completely against the spirit of the game too. Fact is because of one action the wrong team won…. Solution isn’t that hard…. Agree with some points made: 1. Clock should stop after a try is awarded and not restart until the kickoff - takes out that issue 2. Same for penalty shots - except if it misses and is fielded by defensive side it restarts immediately they get hands on it (otherwise when play restarts 3. Scrums- don’t agree with scrum clock but maybe if 2 resets happen no penalty or free kick it automatically reverts to a free kick (can only tap and go) to the attacking side These would be a start… No justification for the time wasting penalty by Raynal… he could have just just stayed with time off until BF was ready to kick And I recall an AB lineout in 1 st half where hooker and another forward had a conference away from the touchline before setting and throw in… that apparently was fine !!!????

I agree, allowing these mini rests detracts from the spectacle, tired legs can add to the excitement. Stopping the clock may have issues but I think it will motivate the players to reduce the time wasting. The “gamesmanship” that has crept into many areas of our great game is ruining the sport. We have an entire front row on the bench to substitute, rest, then come back on for safety reasons. And how often do props do up their laces when a scrum is called? Or apparently badly injured players suddenly jump up? The new water breaks are only a small improvement. Sadly the powers that be rarely act pro-activly, only considering change when finally a contentious event occurs. The excessive time wasting has been obvious for ages, now it’s a headline things may change.

Atlas, Yes I admit I was waxing lyrical to make a point lol. Given the amount of time before asking for said review by the referee, the tmo he could probably have had a triple bypass. :laughing:

TMO bathroom visit! Wait for the day the ref asks TMO assistance / review only to be told 'sorry he's got a crook stomach should be back in ten'

193! You're right, it couldn't work, the current three consecutive Saturday games starting 2.5 hrs apart would no longer be an option. Neither could the players cope with this 3hr endurance effort.

Don’t agree with stopping the clock whenever the ball is ‘out of play’, but there definitely should be some things taken from the NRL like a ‘shot clock’ on drop kicks. Also, if there is a scrum reset time should be stopped until the ball clears a scrum or scrum penalty is blown - I think this alone for scrum tests would add at least 5 minutes a game on average.

Seems the most sensible solution. Countdown clock displayed on the big screen so all players can see it.

While I agree the problem is the iru don’t seem to see any problem as they don’t compete with any other contact sports and business in the north is booming “as is”. Talk of oblivion is not right bar Australia.

In the amateur and early professional days the referee would take note of injury time and add it to the end of the game, as soccer does. Perhaps bringing back extra time for time wasting, injuries, penalties etc would be the answer.

Stopping the clock this often could mean a game goes on for 3 hours. We already have supposed shot clocks for conversion and penalty attempts. TMO or time keeper should be in the refs ear when time lapses. Blow the whistle and other team gets a free kick. Line outs and scrums should have a shot clock (30 seconds?) Once one of the 2 teams has 8 members present. Means the other team has to keep up with the pace that is set. Same goes for the current dilemma. 30 seconds to kick for touch, if you are slow free kick. The problem on Thursday night is that it is at the ref’s discrediting of what is ‘too slow’ if foley took 39 seconds to kick in the 5th minute it would not be blown up. But because 39 seconds is such a large chunk of 90 remaining seconds it does. Make it black and white, 30 seconds or turn it over. Now it’s all good and well to have a list of time limits but they actually need to be enforced, not like the current places kick timers. This should come down to a behind the scenes official as the 3 on the field have enough to deal with.

Stop play and the clock for serious injuries. If it's a calf strain or a big bloke sitting on his bum in the middle of the field then play on. If the ref doesnt give the time in the first place then the players wont try to milk it -------->>>>>>>> consistency!!!!!!!!! Maybe stopping the clock when ball is out of play I.e. in touch or after tries would be a way to see more action but would significantly increase the length of the overall game. If they only play 33 of every 80 then they would need to play 193 minutes total if I'm not mistaken to get the full 80 of playtime.

V'Landy is always but always going to make such statements. Next comment would be from the AFL saying that their game is a more flowing game. There is little doubt however that the game is suffering from pathological forensic paralysis (pfp). Yes I just invented that, but never mind, the intent is in the right place. With such scrutiny down to millimeters it is no surprise adjudication officials want to get it right. Technology affords them the luxury of seeking someone else's opinion. And so the game stops and starts. Time is a constant. How actions are subject to whether time stops or not is the issue. Water breaks, TMO bathroom visits, not a lot of sense other than the need to be mistake free. I agree in that the more tired players become the more opportunities arise but that is not possible given pfp. (See above). Wouldn't it be great to see once again teams exploit the fitness contest.

And why I don't understand the idea the ref should of just stopped clock when Foley was taking so long with his kick the other night, I thought it was strange that some people are just saying he should of stopped the clock? I don't think stopping the clock ever works as we see with TMOs etc etc, it ruins the flow of game. Just make players get on with it or they lose ball!

Add the excessive time for ‘injuries’ to the list. I still Don’t understand the water drink break