We can expect more complaints like this this season, for the simple reasons that a) we have a few players who are niggly at their best and outright dirty at their worst, but more importantly b) Gustard has managed to get our defence looking absolutely no fun to play against whatsoever.
Niggle is easily ignored in a friendly match, but when the opposition are doing their level best to legally put huge pressure on you, hurt you in the tackle (not like that ;)), fight for every inch and every scrap of ground, niggle is a lot more effective.