There's a general theme in all this, though, isn't there? Seems to me that, presumably in the interests of promoting 'attacking rugby', the advantage has increasingly been granted to the side in possession. Hence:



a) players not penalised for walking off the mark, indeed, the defending side usually get done for 'crowding'.



b) excessive use of strip rulings: ball-carriers should take greater responsibility for ball security, as they used to. Defenders should only be penalised for a strip when the ball is literally ripped out, a mere hand on the ball is not enough.



c) players attempting to play the ball before they've got to their feet: once again, the defending side is usually penalised.

Speaking of players moving off the mark, a Wigan forward (shock) when on saints line should have been penalised. i can't recall who it was though.

It was Taulima Tautai; he walked forward several metres before 'playing' the ball, but was not penalised.

And I'll bet that if a saints player had tried to stop him doing that he would have been penalised !.

Think he did it it quite a few times, one occasion he almost played the ball over the saints try line. A lot of the time the refs are not looking at it because they are setting the "10 metre" defensive line, then they see 2 players tangled up at the PTB so the benefit of the doubt goes to the attacker, similar thing happens on a loose carry ref assumes interference. Probably need 2 refs to clean up the PTB process.

Or have the touchjudge keeping an eye out at the PTB?

Or have the TJ actually do there job and police offside at the PTB by watching down the line. The ref can then watch the PTB



What is the point of Touch Judges in today's game other than to put their flag up when in touch? (They still get that wrong as well some of the time)

Bingo - another example where using the rules and resources that are already available are a much more sensible solution than cooking up something new.

I think it's one of those where if the player stumbles forward (whether deliberate or loss of balance) it will generally be let go particularly if the defender still has his hands on the attacker. It's harsh to give a penalty against the attacker unless the ref is 100% sure the defender's hands hasn't caused the stumble forward.

Hicks invented a new rule last night.... Ball hits players knees now = knock on!!!!!!

TJ's fault not Hicks.

My pet hate is players moving 2 metres to the side of where the tackle took place and thus milking a penalty for the markers not being square.