Rugby has the reputation of being a family event. Violence is only on the pitch and not outside the stadium. These fair play values attract fans to the stands and young players to clubs. But some people rooting for the All Blacks have blackened the scene in Cardiff.

Players are also part of this anger. The biggest try scorer of the World Cup History Doug Howlett was arrested, suspected of taking it out on two cars after the game.

No physical violence, just provocation.

That said, threatening the referee
with death is more serious. Former lawyer Wayne Barnes come referee was confronted on the web by his enemies – those who can’t accept that he didn’t blow the whistle after the forward pass between Damien Traille and Frederic Michalak that lead to Yannick Jauzion’s winning try.

Would banning football-like “hands of god” keep football-like violence away from rugby?