I did think the same TBH when watching it. When you watched the footage of the players just getting on with it in several inches of standing water, and you see the modern day lot just flapping round on the floor like a caught fish begging for a penalty, you realise how desperate we are as a sport to tidy the ruck up.

What about an idea if the referee awards a penalty for interference at the ruck, you just get a tap penalty instead of being able to kick to touch? Having an incentive of earning a free 40m, is what is causing players to try so hard to win a penalty by diving about. If you don'y actually get a any free ground, this could help combat it IMO.

You’re probably right but I think the issue at the PTB is as much down to the defenders as the attacker so any steps to clear it up must address both parties.

Not a bad idea that.

BTW, don't want to re-rail the thread, the documentary was superbly done. Would love more of these to be done as we have so many great stories to tell. I was welling up when i saw the footage of Don kicking that goal all those years later

Whilst there is a lot of diving about at the play the ball in an attempt to win a penalty, there is also a lot of messing about and actual interference at the play the ball, so if they change the ruling to one you suggest we might see an even further increase in the messing about at the play the ball due to been a lesser punishment should they get punished in the first place.

Why not just start penalising the attacking player for his over drama? Similar to diving in football, this should act as a deterrent and make players think twice about throwing themselves on the floor.

A minor point,never realised that the national anthem was played after the match in those days ,when did this change?.My memories are of the band of the Coldstream Guards marching onto the field playing Congratulations allthough the watersplash final would predate this i think.Must have been the quickest lap of honour on record !