Former Test referee Nigel Owens admits that he \u2018hasn\u2019t got the answer\u2019 for one area of the game which quite often causes debate.<\/p>\n
While rugby\u2019s laws are open to interpretation, officials, leagues and competitions do try and get a certain amount of consistency.<\/p>\n
However, that is tough to do when it comes to advantage, something which has caused a certain amount of controversy recently.<\/p>\n
Controversial France try<\/p>\n
In the recent Six Nations<\/a> finale between France and England<\/a> in Paris, the visitors were awarded a penalty advantage before it was downgraded.<\/p>\n The referee then called the advantage over and, a few seconds later, Les Bleus were scoring a try through Louis Bielle-Biarrey.<\/p>\n Although that was a unique situation, it raised the questions about the advantage law and when it is the right time for the officials to step in.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a real difficult one because there are so many factors that come in,\u201d Owens<\/a> said on World Rugby\u2019s Whistle Watch.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s say you\u2019re playing a penalty advantage and they change the directive or the law, and you call penalty advantage over much quicker than you do now, what probably will happen is the team that\u2019s got the advantage is not going to risk having it called over, so they just put the ball down, have the penalty.<\/p>\n \u201cThat will then probably take a way from what the advantage is crucial for, which is opportunity and continuity in the game \u2013 you\u2019ve got to remember that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The Welshman felt the overall standard of the officiating was very high in the Six Nations, but reckoned that there was \u2018inconsistent\u2019 application of the advantage law.<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, the refereeing in the Six Nations, they\u2019ve done a good job, but we have seen inconsistencies about lengths of advantage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cPenalty advantage called over pretty quick and then there\u2019s others that have gone on a long time and then come back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a bit of a grey area and a very difficult one to get right.\u201d<\/p>\n