That easy to deal with. Any player who steps off the mark immediately makes un-square markers square, which would put them usually right on top of the dummy half. A shout from the ref keeps the game moving and penalises the stepper.

Justin Carney is seemingly incapable of playing the ball without stepping to one side.

I'm the one over thinking it

The abject failure of successive referees to properly police the play the ball has led to the current mess we have to endure. The problem has now spread as the ball technically returns to play when it is heeled backwards at the PTB. As that doesn't happen, penalties for moving up too quickly are a lottery. Most teams get off the mark as soon as the tackled player regains his feet.

Has anyone questioned why we have this headlong pursuit to increase the speed of the game. It is already the quickest and most physical game on earth. Perhaps the whole game would benefit from being slowed down slightly and played at a less frantic tempo. This would probably allow that more gifted players that extra millisecond of time to weave their magic. At the moment the game has been dumbed down to whoever is quickest off the mark. We could look at Union, they take about 5 minutes for a scrum and 2 minutes for a lineout once the players have had a little huddle. Successive players then dive to the ground with the ball to achieve 227 phases of play until a penalty is given. And yet they still get crowds prepared to pay for almost 10 minutes of action out of 80 and the way the BBC is wetting itself over the Six Nations defies belief.

But perhaps we are missing the point. The slower pace of Union allows for a more measured, considered, intelligent commentary even though there is no action to discuss. Then again, with the peerless Eddie, Baz & Tez, perhaps we do need to speed the game up further.

I much prefer RL to RU and RU at international level tends to be a more negative experience. The difference being at club level R U come along way from the kick and run churned out 10 years ago.
The international games are more of an event and attract many spectators who have little or no interest in the game itself. The corporate sides excellent more often than not booked well in advance.
Trying to book a corporate event at Wembley for the cc a nightmare and not inviting.
I don't think RL will ever be able to provide the full package to anyone without an interest in the sport.

Another rule that seems to have disappeared is that of the "voluntary tackle". I thought that on receiving the ball from a kick then the player must make an attempt to move forward and not fall to the ground and wait for an opposing player to complete a "tackle" otherwise it would be a penalty. All teams do it and Grix made a blatant vt last Friday with no consequences OR has the rule been scrapped?

I agree. Kendall is a bit younger so let's not be harsh. In refereeing terms he's still a young one. He'll get better.
Thaler is by far the best ref though. The older I get the more respect I have for refs. Don't half hear some rubbish from the stands. You usually look a fool when you see incidents back on tv. Not to say they don't make the odd shocker though. The call against Fifita was pretty unforgivable.