Thelonius wrote:
I can see the Players carry on running or pass the ball after the referee has called ‘held.’ causing some confusion. Most players are going to develop hearing problems and most fans are going to be up in arms when they feel their team has been unfairly penalised when the opposition are being seen to 'get away with it' (though I suppose that is what happens currently anyway).
The only other change I would have liked to have seen is where a player bats the ball into the field of play just before it goes into touch (to stop a 40-20 for example) but then goes into touch himself before coming back on and fielding the ball. IMO if a player goes into touch to keep the ball in play then he shouldn't be allowed to touch the ball again until the ball has been touched by someone else.
I don't think anything would be gained by a player failing to hear the 'held' call and carrying on only to be brought back; it would only slow the PTB down. However, if they didn't come back to the spot where they were tackled would they then be penalised for moving off the mark? I think they should have just left it as it was.
The corner flag rule change is ridiculous as well. Hitting the flag should still mean you are in touch, that is why it is there!
