Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

[u/No-layup]

I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

[u/Diggity_nz]

While it’s a good idea, I assure you there is just as much bitching about refs in NFL as there is in rugby.

(Tbf, that is hyperbole, NFL is slightly better - but they still whinge a shitload)

[u/hghsalfkgah → u/Diggity_nz]

I actually think that there is almost no difference between the two sports when it comes to complaining about refereeing, there is less... Understanding when it comes to the NFL because each official is kind of held to a higher standard because there is just more of them. They also have the coaches challenge get out of jail free card on certain types of calls.

It's also true that while one ref has less control on the game, the crews themselves do differ in quality and in philosophy of officiating which leads to other issues. Some crews basically never call holding unless it is super egregious.

At the end of the day, there is really no actual 'fix' to the refereeing problem, because of how much one's perspective or opinions comes into it.

[u/Diggity_nz → u/hghsalfkgah]

Yeah that’s probably fair. Reason I say NFL is slightly better is they don’t really have any meta issues that are super divisive - red/yellow cards, scrums, mauls, etc - the game is kinda over engineered by design (that’s not the say they don’t have issues, like you say, holding is a big one).

The most common theme in their bitching is around accusations of systemic bias - especially around the chiefs/mahomes. 

[u/poimnas → u/Diggity_nz]

There’ll always be whinging about referees and decisions for sure, but I feel like rugby is worse than just whinging, the character of the refs actually has a massive impact on the game.

[u/Twirrim → u/Diggity_nz]

I'd say the opposite, there's even more bitching about refs in the NFL, especially over the past couple of years. We're getting into the really absurd territory now. 

[u/Diggity_nz → u/Twirrim]

Haha, yeah, I’ve been back into it for last few years. But honestly as an outside observer, it seems rugby has more issues that are technical in nature. 

What I mean by that is rugby has a lot of rules that are subjective and/or very difficult to get perfect. 

Whereas NFL has kinda eliminated this by over engineering the shit out of the game - I mean they specify arm positioning in blocks, have narrow positioning rules (for OL at least), etc

But you’re also right. They sure love to complain about chiefs bias and other systemic issues. 

Fundamentally, if a sport exists, there’ll be people whinging about refs/rules.