Law talk on Currie Cup, Wk 8

There are always things to talk about but there is one this week which tells us so much about the laws and their application. It happened in dry old Kimberley.

Make sure you read about Bobby Joubert.

Some of what is discussed here has appeared in clips on www.sareferees.co.za.

1. Looks wrong

Western Province play the Golden Lions in Johannesburg. Western Province throw into Gerrie Britz towards the back of the line-out. He catches the ball. Ernst Joubert of the Golden Lions then comes in to play the ball which Britz has from the Western Province side.

The referee allows play to go on.

Right?

Yes.

The throw was beyond the 15-metre line. That means that the line-out is over when Britz v-catches the ball. Now we have general play. There is nothing that pouts Joubert off-side. He is allowed to play the ball in the way that he does.

This was the first line-out of the second half.

You could compare this with an incident in Griquas-Sharks match when the Sharks throw into the line-out and before it is over Wayne van Heerden of Griquas runs infield over the 15-metre line. The referee refers to it as “tail-gunning”.

This happened around the 31st minute.

2. Time, kicker, time

The Sharks play Griquas in Kimberley and Rory Kockott of the Sharks is converting a try.

He places the ball on the kicking tee. The ball falls off because it is windy. One of the Sharks’ support staff runs onto the field. The referee tells him that he is not allowed to hold the ball.

The referee then says: “10 seconds.”

Kockott hurries up and misses.

Was the referee right?

Yes.

Only another Shark on the field could hold the ball.

Law 9.B.1 (e) The kicker must take the kick within one minute from the time the kicker has indicated an intention to kick. The intention to kick is signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or the player makes a mark on the ground. The player must complete the kick within the minute even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again.
Penalty. The kick is disallowed if the kicker does not take the kick within the time allowed.

But what about calling out the time – won’t that put the kicker off? Possibly but what do you as a referee do if the kicker asks for a countdown of sorts?

3. Making wrong right?

The Valke play the Blue Bulls. The Blue Bulls are getting the ball when the referee indicates advantage to them. The ball comes back to the Blue Bulls’ scrumhalf JP Joubert who decides Enough. I want the penalty.

He picks up the ball in unconvincing fashion and then drops it to ground. But the referee cries out: “Play on.”

Joubert snatches up the ball and plays on, and the Blue Bulls score a long-range try.

But it does suggest several questions:

a. Should a player have the right to choose whether he wants advantage or not?
b. Should the referee order him to play?
c. Did Joubert drop the ball forward?
d. If he did, should he not be penalised for a deliberate infringement?

It also suggests that players are silly not to grab the advantage when they have the chance.

Answers are not as easy as questions:

a. Probably but in a less silly way than this.
b. Not order.
c. If he did then the Blue Bulls were not allowed to play on.
d. No. The first infringement counts.

But this sort of thing requires sensible management as it is open to abuse.

For example. The referee plays advantage. George Gregan passes a long way back to Stephen Larkham and the All Black defenders advance past Gregan. But Larkham, deliberately knocks on and throws the ball back to Gregan as the referee blows for the penalty This gives Gregan a space advantage on the All Blacks who advanced.

Joubert, by the way, seems to have dropped the ball onto his boot for a little grubber. The idea of the deliberate knock-on is here only for discussion purposes.

This happened around 26 minutes.

4. Quick thinking all round

This is a brilliant bit of quick thinking – by the Griqua players and by the referee – and by the commentators. It just looks so wrong.

Griquas miss a kick at goal and Monty Dumond of the Sharks drops out. Standing near touch, Bobby Joubert of Griquas catches the ball, his right foot on the touch-line. He then races forward, swerving to get past Kees Lensing of the Sharks.

When Joubert sees a clearing about eight metres outside the Sharks 22 he throws in to Tiger Mangweni of Griquas. Mangweni passes back to Joubert who gives to Hans van Dyk. Tackled Van Dyk pops the ball to Evan Botha who scores.

Everything that happened was right.

The ball was out on the full because Joubert was in touch, by one foot when he caught the ball.

If the ball is kicked directly into touch, the other side (Griquas in this case) is allowed a line-out on the 22.

They are allowed a quick throw in on the 22 or anywhere on their side of the Sharks 22.

It was an excellent moment.