It seems that every few years, after condoning this or that practice, that World Rugby, or the RFU, finally understands what their referees have created by failing to apply current laws and an edict goes out to referees to take corrective measures. Something that would not be necessary if they did not allow things to get out of hand in the first place. They realise they have fallen into what I call the creeping trap. You allow A because it does not seem that bad, but then you get B, which you allow because it is not much worse than A. They you allow C, which is not much worse than B, and before you know it, you find you are at G, miles from where you started but you find it difficult to penalise because it is only marginally worse than the last example.

The solution is not to allow A in the first place and to be strict about this, knowing that if you do condone something, it will not end there. Players and coaches at professional level will push at a door that is only slightly ajar, and their amateur brethren will follow because they ape what they see. This sort of benign ignorance leads to coaches posing as water carriers and feeling able to get involved in on-field coaching. This has even extended to physiotherapists trying to instruct players and comment to referees about decisions.

What referees, and those who seek to and do try to manipulate them, have to understand is where this leads. Take a look at Premier League football and international rugby to see how far people will go, if allowed. Then see Sunday morning games involving kids and see the mimicry. From there go to the statistics about volunteer referees, without whom there is no game, and see how they are falling.

No good comes from not setting clear boundaries and the natural consequence of giving an inch is clear. The ten-metre rule is so effective because even your own players and supporters will not support you if you cannot keep your mouth shut. We need to see more of its use from those with the whistle.