There's more to it than just being out.

Australia have the ball and move to their right. The ball goes to James O'Connor who is immediately tackled by Ruan Pienaar and Gurthrö Steenkamp. Dean Mumm is above the tackle area and O'Connor hands the ball back through his legs. Bryan Habana is to the left of this tackle area and close to it. As the ball comes back through Mumm's legs he darts forward, nudges Will Genia out of the way and picks up the ball.

This tackle area may have been a ruck - if Steenkamp is deemed to be on his feet, which was unlikely.

Habana's problem is not whether the ball was out but where he started from. He was not behind the ;last feet on his side when the ball was still caught up in the tackle/ruck.

If it was a ruck, Habana certainly started from an offside position.

If it was just a tackle he did not play the ball from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to his goal-line.

The laws do not state when a tackle is over. Perhaps they should.