Anyone else miss wizardry of running backs of old?

WHY are so many penalties being awarded in rugby games at all levels?

Don’t the players know the rules? Or, if they do, do they deliberately flout them?

And so the tedious succession of penalty kicks goes on, and on!

Besides interfering with the flow of the game, thus reducing it as a spectacle, it surely cannot be a satisfaction to the players to score penalty points to win games.

Tries are the thing . . . so learn and abide by the rules, and score more tries and fewer penalties!

Also, as an old supporter of rugby, I would like to ask others of my time if they believe, as I do, that rugby has deteriorated as a spectacle.

This is mainly due to the narrow lining up of the backs opposite one another, and the now frequency of the barge-over try, which may score the points but does nothing to enhance the attraction of the game flow.

While I have to admit that rugby is still pulling in the interest (including mine) and the crowds, my contention is that the enjoyment of the game to those very crowds does not compare with the wizardry of the running backs of old.

Maybe I am just being too critical, but I would be interested to know how many agree with me.

M Sandwick, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth