Playing the scrumhalf

Jannie du Plessis of the Sharks charges. Peter Grant of the Stormers tackles low, holding him at the ankles. Both players go to ground, Grant holding Du Plessis. There is a tackle.

The ball comes back to Rory Kockott but before he can get to it Tiaan Liebenberg of the Stormers charges in and bumps Kockott.

The referee penalises Liebenberg, saying he was playing the scrumhalf.

Was there a ruck? It did not seem so. If there was no ruck, then the tackle law applies for there certainly was a tackle.

When does a tackle end?  The law says nothing about this. It tells you when a ruck, a maul, a line-out and a scrum end but not when a tackle ends.

Does the position of the ball in this clip mean the tackle is over? If it is a tackle - and it was a tackle - Liebenberg is approaching from the side.

The referee's penalty for playing the man without the ball is a fair one.