AUSTRALIA’S World Cup hero Stephen Larkham has called on Super 12 referees to take a tougher stand against foul play after he was flattened three times in last weekend’s opening round of the Southern Hemisphere tournament. Larkham said the sport’s new regulations allowing referees to sin-bin players are not effective against more blatant rough-house tactics. “I think there needs to be stronger penalties and certainly the ref should have sent someone off,” Larkham said. Larkham also hinted that his ongoing injury problems have forced him to seriously consider the option of an early retirement.