We now have refs coaching scrums and mauls on a regular basis. There is constant lecturing of players....first warnings, second warnings. They influence almost every phase of rugby.
Then there are so many facets which are designed to induce the penalty. Often the involuntary penalty. The scrums, the mauls and even the play on the deck is often simply directed to get the penalty.
No other sport has so much play directed at inducing the penalty. It's a negativity in the game. In a scrum for example, why is a beaten opposition scrum a penalty vs simply good ball.
At the same time we have given up on good rules that promote a contest....eg the straight feed in the scrums. And we have rubbish, poorly understood rules like the drift on passes.
Rugby has become very static of late with endless close in phase play and constant interruptions. Hell every scrum is preceded by a ritual of discussion, first aid attention and water drinking. It seems at least half of the mauls lead to penalties....with perfectly rational milking of the situation.
The game needs to take a good look at the trends....rugby is losing a lot of its charm. I suspect too much of the game is now being decided by the refs, who not surprisingly are giving themselves a more and more involved role.
It's time to get back to the continuity and purity of the game.
