Late charge.

Deon van Rensburg of the Golden Lions runs down the right touch-line and as Nicky Kritzinger, the Pumas fullback, closes in on him, Van Rensburg kicks. After he kicks Kritzinger keeps on moving towards him and bangs into him, shoulder first, knocking Van Rensburg to ground.

Immediately the assistant referee flicks out his flag to indicate foul play.

The referee and his assistant discuss the matter. They agree that the contact was late, that the shoulder was used and that Kritzinger should be sin-binned, which is what happened.

The referee then awards the penalty. The contact happened within a metre of touch but the penalty was awarded on the 15-metre line.

Is that right?

Law 10.4 (o) Late-charging the kicker. A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball. Penalty: The non-offending team may choose to take the penalty kick either at the place of infringement, where the ball lands, or where it was next played.

Place of infringement. If the infringement takes place in the kicker’s in-goal, the penalty kick is taken 5 metres from the goal line in line with the place of infringement but at least 15 metres from the touchline.
The non-offending team may also choose to take the penalty where the ball lands or is next played before landing and at least 15 metres from the touchline.
Where the ball lands. If the ball lands in touch, the mark for the optional penalty kick is on the 15-metre line, in line with where it went into touch. If the ball lands, or is next played before landing, within 15 metres of the touchline, the mark is on the 15-metre line opposite where the ball landed or was played.

The referee gave the Pumas the option of a penalty where Kritzinger banged into Van Rensburg or where the ball landed but at least 15 metres from the touch line.

The referee was right.

Why the yellow card? It was the use of the shoulder that made the offence worse than the one in Clip 1.