Readers' questions

Including intentional knock-on

We deal briefly with questions from readers, two concerned with the deliberate knock-on.

1. Deliberate knock-on

a. Reader: One other incident which should probably have been more severely penalised in the recent SA vs Aus game was the (deliberate?) knock-on which blocked Rathbone's pass during his counter-attack. The perpetrator may have been De Villiers or Joubert (I cannot remember). It certainly looked at though the defender knocked down the pass rather than going for an interception - a professional foul? Could have been crucial at that point in the game.

Eddie, UK

b. Reader: In a Currie Cup match recently there were two cases of a knock-on by a player going for an intercept with one hand. When the one side did it, it was a penalty. When the other side did it, it was a scrum. Isn't this inconsistent?

Kosie Malgas, South Africa

Answer: The decision about intention is entirely a referee's call. Incidents are seldom "the same". Each incident is probably unique and not subject to the rule of thumb.

There is in history a case where Clive Norling awarded a penalty try against the Pumas for a deliberate knock-on. There is also a case where many felt that a penalty try could have been awarded against the Wallabies for a knock-on by David Campese, and it was not awarded.

It is a matter for the referee's judgement - which makes it hard.

Let's say first that a referee must be certain that an intentional knock-on was in fact an intentional knock-on. He should have no doubt when he penalises - as is the case with all penalties.

Normally the deliberate knock-on will occur when the player tries to catch the ball with only one hand.

If the player's hand is parallel to the ground with the back of his hand on top, the knock-on may well be intentional because such an act would male catching the ball impossible.

If he then raises his hand, swats the ball forward, it is quite likely to be a deliberate knock-on.

If his hand is at right angles to the ground, palm in the direction of the ball, he could well be trying to catch the ball and in a position to do so.

If his hand is parallel to the ground, palm under it, he may be trying to catch the ball though it is more difficult without a juggle. A juggle is not in itself an offence.

There was a grubber ahead in a  Currie Cup match recently when the wing chased and flipped the ball up with his left hand and caught it with both hands to score. There is not a referee so insane as not to give a try and penalise for a deliberate knock on.

Law 10.2 (a) Intentional offending. A player must not intentionally infringe any Law of the Game, or play unfairly.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored. The player who voluntarily offends must be either admonished or cautioned that a send-off will result if the offence or a similar offence is committed, or sent off. After a caution a player is temporarily suspended from the match for as period of ten minutes' playing time. If a player repeats the offence, the player is sent off.

Law 12.1 1 THE OUTCOME OF A KNOCK-ON OR THROW-FORWARD

(a) Unintentional knock-on or throw-forward. A scrum is awarded at the place of infringement.

(b) Unintentional knock-on or throw-forward at a line-out. A scrum is awarded 15 metres from the touch-line.

(e) Intentional knock or throw-forward. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with arm or hand, nor throw-forward.

Penalty: Penalty kick. A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.

If the ball goes forward as in a knock-on while a player attempts to catch the ball and that player catches the ball before it has touched the ground or another player, play continues.

2. Get on your feet

Reader: Bay of Plenty vs Canterbury. Justin Marshall is not on feet near try line, ball squirts out of ruck. Marshall grabs ball and places over try line. Try?

Doesn't Marshall have to be on his feet before he can play the ball?

SF, New Zealand

Answer: The short answer is Yes.

Law 14 Definition: The game is to be played by players who are on their feet. A player must not make the ball unplayable by falling down. Unplayable means that the ball is not immediately available to either team so that play may continue.

The principle is playing while on feet but the rest seems to amplify that by saying the ball should not be made unplayable. Marshall did not make the ball unplayable.

Law 15.7 (a) After a tackle, all other players must be on their feet when they play the ball. Players are on their feet if no other part of their body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.

Penalty: Penalty Kick

That's clear if there had been just a tackle. What about after the ruck?

Law 16.4 (d) Players on the ground in or near the ruck must try to move away from the ball. These players must not interfere with the ball in the ruck or as it comes out of the ruck.

(e) A player must not fall on or over a ball as it is coming out of a ruck.

Penalty: Penalty Kick

There - that is clear enough, crystal clear.

Marshall must be on his feet to play the ball and get the try.

Add to all of this an IRB ruling. Rulings are things to be avoided as the Laws themselves should be sufficient. Let's add the ruling as an interesting addendum.

RULING 1: 2004
Law Ruling by Designated Members of Laws Committee
20 January 2004

The Welsh Rugby Union has requested a ruling with regard Law 14 - Ball on the Ground-No tackle

May a player lying on the ground during general play and not after a tackle, attempt to tackle a ball-carrier?

The Designated Members have ruled the following in answer to the questions raised:

Ruling

Law 14 states 'The game is to be played by players on their feet'. The action noted above is illegal.

3. Drop or not

This question comes from one of those You be the Ref quizzes which we did recently. The case was as follows, taken from a fictional match between the Kalahari Farm Implements and the French Cheeses:

The French Cheeses are to drop out. Guy Camembert, the French Cheeses flyhalf, runs up quickly, puts the ball on the ground, taps it over the line with his foot, picks up and starts running.

You will

a. have the French Cheeses drop out again
b. give the Kalahari Farm Implements the option of a kick again or a scrum in the middle of the 22-metre line
c. give the Kalahari Farm Implements the option of a kick again or a scrum where Camembert tapped the ball.
d. let play go on.

The answer is given as b.

Reader: What is wrong with young Camembert's drop-out in the first place?

Neil Rogers, UK

Answer: It wasn't a drop kick. It was a place kick. A drop-out is taken with a drop.

Definitions: Drop Kick - the ball is dropped from the hand or hands to the ground and kicked as it rises from its first bounce

Law 13.11 DEFINITION

A drop-out is used to restart play after an attacking player has put or taken the ball into the in-goal, without infringement, and a defending player has made the ball dead there or it has gone into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line.

A drop-out is a drop kick taken by the defending team. The drop-out may be taken anywhere on or behind the 22-metre line.

Putting the ball on the ground and tapping it ahead does not constitute a drop kick.

4. TMO's jurisdiction

Reader: Regarding the use of the TMO during the final moments of the match in Perth, it appeared to me that Du Preez applied downward pressure to the ball while in-goal and then picked it up and played on.

Question: If the referee never asked the TMO whether the ball was grounded is the TMO barred from providing that information? Alternatively, did the TMO have the authority to bring the matter to the referee's attention and suggest/recommend that play be brought back to be restarted with a 22 drop? Certainly advantage does not apply if the ball is well and truly grounded in in-goal by the defenders (or does it?).

USA

Answer: The television match official is there to give the referee advice that he has asked for. He responds to the referee's question and does not proffer advice or suggestions of his own.

Certainly the ball is dead when it is grounded in in-goal.