Had a 65-5 game last week so the young visiting stand off had plenty of kick off practice.
No matter how many times I hinted to kick it the other way or grubber it he ignored me and kept dollying it up to the 22 where the opposition just ran it straight back.
Had to do something similar when an inexperienced U15 were being taken apart at every breakdown and were starting to lash out in frustration. After yet another screaming match at each other after being opened up again, I just made the comment “well, if you keep leaving that massive hole next to the ruck then of course they’re going to run through you…”
The light came on and they at least became competitive. They still lost (badly, no “mercy rule” in the league) but at least they didn’t tear each other apart or boil over against the opposition which was a real possibility at one point.
Not something I normally do, but in this case it felt justified to keep the peace and rescue the match before the losing team did something stupid.