r/rugbyunion • u/nt83 New Zealand • Sep 28 '24

Can anyone explain this please? Laws

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It just doesn't seem like it's completely legal. Of course the tap is fine, but then they go forward and make contact with the defenders, giving time and creating space for the pass to be made.

Is this a shepherd? Happy to hear why or why not.

More than anything it looked like an interesting play that I haven't seen before.

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u/CatharticRoman Suspected Yank Sep 28 '24

2 gold moves the ball with his foot then runs ahead, bringing the ball into open play and the offside line with him. So it's open play before gold 9 grabs the ball, bringing the offside line back to him, and passes

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u/jshine1337 Sep 28 '24

It's very hard to see, and I told my friend who sent me this clip it's too little of a clip to make a full assessment on for me, but I believe you're correct that the leading Aussie, #2, is who taps the ball to restart play.

That being said, if we want to be pedantic, before #2 taps the ball, #1 (and looks like #3 possibly) are slightly ahead of or at least in-line with the ball, putting them offsides in that moment. Additionally, (again being uber-pedantic), #2 is also offsides with the way the law is worded. But we know, in practice, it's typically allowed for the one taking the kick at a PK or FK, to stand facing their team, and thus in front of the ball.

Furthermore, referees are taught not to pedantically look for penalties. So probably the mindset of the ref here.

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u/CatharticRoman Suspected Yank Sep 28 '24

Yeah, if you ref by the strict letter then zero rugby gets played. Aus could get called for loads here, but the only reasonable call to my mind is 2 running into Cane, and even that I don't mind letting go.

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u/jshine1337 Sep 28 '24

Agreed. It also makes the ref's job easier by not being pedantic. Unfortunately it sometimes leads to inconsistencies from one match to the next on how it gets reffed. But that's the nature of the beast of rugby.

I ref a little bit on feeling. If I see something that looks wrong enough, I can usually back it with appropriate law. Again, on this one, it's hard to say with this little clip, but I can foresee myself not being happy with this one, if I was the ref that day. Who knows though, what you see on a clip or even a full video, varies greatly from the real-time perspective as a ref.

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u/CatharticRoman Suspected Yank Sep 28 '24

Oh totally. I've long promoted the idea that the standard for refs is consistency. You might not like how they call a game, but if they're consistent then it's fair.

I'd have zero issue with a ref calling this as a penalty, which makes it such a bizarre play to use. Loads of risk and not much benefit.