A couple of disputed refereeing decisions in recent Super 14 games have caused some to suggest that certain Laws need to be loooked at:



1. He's won it!


At a tackle the ball is on the ground. Josh Blackie of the Highlanders is there and seeks to grab the ball with his hands. Brent Russell of the Stormers pushes against Blackie who seems to get the ball up off the ground but then drops its back onto the ground as Russell shoves against him. Blackie then gets the ball up and the referee proclaims: "He's won it!"


This is something that one hopes will change. When Blackie first put his hands on the ball it was legal. When Russell shoved against him it was no loner legal because it was a ruck - a player of each side in physical contact over the ball on the ground.

Follow up:

2. The case of the tackling non-tackler


If the example above is a hard-luck case, this one is worse. Gareth Hardy of the Force surges ahead. Ernst Joubert and Gordon Gilfillan of the Lions grab him. Gilfillan lets go but Joubert holds on. Hardy goes to ground with the ball while Joubert, holding onto Hardy, stays on his feet. Joubert, the side of Hardy, grabs the ball and is penalised for not coming in from behind.


It is an interesting situation. We have a tackle:
But we do not have a tackler, because Joubert stayed on his feet. It is a desirable thing to stay on your feet in rugby, but not if you want to be a tackler.

It is a tackle.


Law 15: A tackle occurs when a ball-carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to the ground.


Hardy is tackled by Joubert but Joubert is not a tackler.


Law 15: Opposition players who hold the ball-carrier and bring that player to ground and also go to ground are known as tacklers.


Opposition players who hold the ball-carrier and do not go to ground are not tacklers. That meant that Joubert had to go round and enter through the gate. It is absurd!


The referee, of course, was right to penalise Joubert because that is what the law requires. They should change that.


Source: Planet Rugby