I have to stop following the game to launch into some explanation which in turn requires sub-explanations such as” A maul is….” or “He wasn’t offside because….” I have also been coaching a mini side for 4 seasons now and again explaining why they cannot do this or that can be quite difficult. Therefore, I have reached the conclusion that to gain even wider appeal the game needs to make itself easier to comprehend for the casual observer.

One of my bêtes noires is the line out. There are thirty three possible penalty offences at a line out! With all that potential mayhem why do many referees position themselves next to the touch judge so they can check the gap and see if the throw is straight? They should leave that to the touch judge and position themselves to the rear and slightly to the side of the line out so they can look for barging and pulling down, or if Dean Ryan is playing looking for a full on punch on his opposite number. ( Come on Bristol, cite me! Dare you!)

Then I would not allow full line outs. I have never known a team have more than 4 jumpers so I would make line outs a maximum of 4 against 4. This would make it easier to spot offences which would discourage offending. It would also lead to less driving mauls from a line out.

Next I would ban lifting or even touching your team mate until he had caught the ball and had both feet on the ground. The skill in the line out should be to out jump your opponent not out lift him.

Then I would not let any of the 4 jumpers past the 15 metre line. That would stop those frustrating penalties where a side wins clean line out ball but is penalised because someone was six inches past the 15m line but did not get the ball. The line out might then become a genuine contest for the ball and a good way of restarting the game when the ball has gone out of play. The ball would be in play quicker and there would be fewer penalties at lineouts and so there would be less stop start games. Of course the midfield would be more cluttered with fewer in the line out but then those extra defenders will be met by extra attackers.

My other hobby horse is referees. I referee minis on a Sunday and the abuse you take from parents who can only see one player not 24 is incredible. So I do have sympathy for premiership refs. However, I have seen several games where the pleasure for spectators was diminished because of the standard of refereeing and even where unfair results occurred because of refereeing decisions.

The Harlequins home game last season and the 1996 cup final spring instantly to mind. There are several new refs coming through to replace the Campsalls and Morrisons. They all seem afraid to let the game flow and seem to lack a sympathetic manner with the players. I am told that this is due to their fear of the assessor. If they allow play to continue they feel they may be assessed as having missed an offence. Therefore you end up with too much whistle from Barnard, Goodliffe, Maybank and Rowden which makes the game less enjoyable to watch.

Then there is inconsistent use of the touch judges. Some referees will take all sorts of advice on knock ons, offside etc from the touch judge and others only accept intervention for foul play and try decisions. I think modern players are so fit and some games potentially so fast that top games can only be refereed by all 3 officials working together as equals with the ref in the middle more equal than the other two.

Scrums which are reset several times annoy me too. Sometimes it takes 2 minutes for the ball to get into play while the scrum is reset 4 or 5 times even though the ball has come out. In the Llanelli semi final McHugh blew his whistle when the ball was in the fly half’s hands to order the scrum to be reset.

I know there are safety considerations but I want to see the scrum become what it was intended to be. The scrum is supposed to be a way of restarting the game but unless the hand of Back intervenes you know which team will win the ball. So lets make it a contest. Make the scrum half stand back one metre and then put the ball in straight. The scrum then becomes a contest in which both hookers have a chance. These are existing laws which are not enforced because it is appears to be more important to check on the body positions of the front rows.

When you get poor refereeing the players see it as an opportunity to get away with murder. Witness Clohessy in the Heineken Final this year. Neil Back has been pilloried for one offence but Clohessy cheated every time he packed down at a scrum by not offering Darren a shoulder and he knew what he was doing.

Allowing touch judges to come infield slightly to get a better view might reduce the temptation for skulduggery on the blind side or offside behind the referee’s back. By reducing the opportunities to offend in the line outs and other areas you make it easier for the ref and open the game up. This must then make it easier for the casual observer to understand and appreciate what is happening.

So what do you think? Shoot me down in flames if you like but I would prefer to see your article than your post! We could make a mini series out of this. Email your article to Denise at leicestertiger@yahoo.co.uk

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes