If a ref in rugby were to put up with a player, especially one that is not a captain, you get soccer. Half the players on the pitch mobbing him/her for favorable calls, whining, questioning, ridiculous flopping, etc.

Having seen enough over the years, with the amount of control a ref has on the outcome, when a team can bend the ear of a ref it can significantly ruin a game.

If you ever watch Nigel Owen’s ref a game (probably a rerun as I believe he is retired) he was one of the most fair refs you will ever see. I know you are making judgments based with only seeing one side but, with that knowledge, you will know he isn’t pulling an ego trip. He is tamping down in the players ego.