There has yet to be a truly spiteful game in the Rugby World Cup, and there will be one - but the opening weekend still produced six yellow cards in just eight games. A number of those cards were for persistent infringements, but some were for single incidents of foul play.

The fact that referees are cracking down on foul play is hardly a surprise, especially on the biggest stage, as this is rugby's chance to pick up many new fans. Rugby still remains a full-contact and confrontational game, but the days of putting the boot into an opponent or fists flying in the scrum are over, and the IRB would like to keep it that way.

The first yellow card of the tournament was picked up by All Black prop Carl Hayman after he threw a punch during a scrum altercation. While the punch was of little consequence and on another day may have simply resulted in some stern words from the referee, the swift and decisive action showed that referees have been instructed to take a much harder line.

'The fact that referees are cracking down on foul play is hardly a surprise, especially on the biggest stage, as this is rugby's chance to pick up many new fans'

Another yellow card could easily have been produced for England captain Phil Vickery when he foot-tripped Paul Emerick, but although the incident was obvious, it was not picked up by referee Jonathan Kaplan. Kaplan did produce three yellow cards in that match, two for persistent infringements and one to Emerick for a spear tackle.

Of course the crackdown is not limited to foul play; two-thirds of the yellow cards so far have been for persistent infringements, something else referees have clearly been instructed to be harsh on. Too often promising attacks are snuffed out by deliberate offences which attract no more than a penalty, ruining the game as a spectacle.

If the referees are able to show they are no longer willing to continue this trend, and clean up the game,  existing and new fans alike will be treated to the brilliant attacking rugby everyone wants to see.