Offside?

The Blues play the Crusders and Stephen Brett of the Blues kicks high and far downfield. Jared Payne of the Crusaders waits for it, knocks on a long way and falls to the ground as Blues players approach. Sean Maitland of the Crusaders picks up the ball, thus denying the approaching Blues a chance to take advantage of the knock-on. The referee awards a scrum to the Blues.

What about offside?

No, no. The referee was right.

Why?

Because Maitland was not offside.

Why not?

Because he came from behind Payne.

Law 11 DEFINITIONS

In general play a player is offside if the player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball, or in front of a team-mate who last played the ball.

Maitland was not in front of Payne when Payne played the ball.

Because Maitland was not offside, the business about being offside and precvnting advantage at a knock-on does not apply.