Editorial: A better way to punish foul play on rugby field

Drew Mitchell of the Wallabies is sent off during the 2010 Tri-Nations Bledisloe Cup match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks are on fire and from the New Zealand viewpoint, test match rugby is as sexy as it has been in living memory. Some of that is down to a conspiracy by referees to eliminate illegal play. Their hardline attitude in the Tri-Nations competition so far has allowed an enterprising team to seize chances at pace and dazzle the crowds.

At the same time, though, their hard line is threatening to undermine this test renaissance by over-zealously removing players from the field for non-violent indiscretions.

The referees are damned if they do and damned if they don't. To insist on a free-flowing, high-pace game the whistleblowers must insist on penalising professional fouls.

But penalising is the operative word. Not banishing to the sinbin for 10 minutes or out for the rest of a game. Since when did throwing a ball away or pushing someone to avoid a collision really amount to an offence warranting anything other than a penalty to the other side?

The humble straight-arm penalty, with the option of marching the offending team 10m up the field to improve the other side's chance of scoring three points, is rugby's best disciplinary option.

Instead of two yellow cards automatically equalling a red-card sending-off, why not encourage referees to pull out the card only for violent acts of illegal play or for an offence that demonstrably prevents a team scoring a try? Discipline everything else through penalties.

Establish a system of moving players upfield and infield to increase the chance of the cheating team being punished on the scoreboard; perhaps even make some cheating offences punishable by a penalty awarded in front of the goalpost on the 22m line, no matter where the offence occurred.

Basketball's free throws could be the inspiration. Either the game will flow or points will be scored, in an even contest for 80 minutes.