Clip 6 - 2 February

Listen to the commentator.

De Kock Steenkamp knocks the line-out ball back to the Stormers side where prop Wicus Blaauw gets the ball and charges ahead. John Smit of the Sharks rides Blaauw to ground but Blaauw ends on top of him with Andries Bekker on top as well.

That is a lot of weight on Smit who is pinned to the ground.

The referee says: "3 is stuck under the players."

He awards a scrum to the Stormers.

Right?

Law 15.8 DOUBT ABOUT FAILURE TO COMPLY
If the ball becomes unplayable at a tackle and there is doubt about which player did not conform to Law, the referee orders a scrum immediately with the throw-in by the team that was moving forward prior to the stoppage or, if no team was moving forward, by the attacking team.

The referee was right. He decided that the ball was unplayable, did not think Smit had transgressed and immediately awarded a scrum to the Stormers.

Just one little thing - don't buy this interpretation business. There should not be interpretation of the laws - only application of them. The referee here applied the law.




(c) Gallo
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