In this set of readers' questions Jonathan Kaplan answers one that concerned a match that he refereed recently.

1. Name: Sapphire Johnstone

Question: #10 attempts a drop goal from a scrum, not realising that it cannot be awarded if "successful".  The ball sails over the dead ball line.  How does the game restart?

Jonathan Kaplan: 22m drop out - no option

2. Name: Bjorn Viljoen

Question: I'm currently a referee in the Limpopo province working to one day become a panel referee or even IRB. My question to you will be when will we get the opportunity to be seen by SARU trainers and referees like André Watson and Tappe or even Jonathan to give us advice on becoming the best we can be. I do see how referees get chances to show themselves in high profile school matches like with Affies and Waterkloof, we just don't have those type off games, on a regular basis and that raise the question will I get the opportunity to get on top if I stay in Limpopo or not?   

I do believe we have some talent in Limpopo and would like to get the opportunity to prove that, I would like to suggest that SARU could come down and give us almost a boot camp or some training seminars to assist us on becoming top quality referees. I'm willing to take leave for a week and even come up to Johannesburg to learn more to better myself and to ensure I could give a better service to rugby.

Kind Regards    

Jonathan Kaplan: It’s a very good question as not only do I believe that there are potentially good referees in the Far North, but they could also probably field a team which could quite easily be competitive in the B section of the Currie Cup. I am not involved in the day-to-day running of the referees department but I believe they hold seminars in the rural areas which would obviously be a starting point to furthering your career. The big problem for you is exposure , and unfortunately you will in all likelihood have to move to one of the bigger centres to start with in order to make a name for yourself . Once you are on the panels, then it wouldn't really matter where you lived .

3. Name: Ian Lewis

Question: Jonathan Kaplan blew Heinke twice up for 'not pushing through' (his words over the ref mike) after engage was called, but before the ball was put into the scrum. I don't understand this ruling and it appeared that Heinke was also baffled. Care to explain.   

Jonathan Kaplan: In the game you are referring to, between he Lions and the Brumbies, I asked Heinke to go on with the hit, which means that not only must he absorb the impact, but drive through on the hit and take the bind. In addition he was too far from his opponent which caused the scrum to collapse. When a prop does not drive through on engagement, his team will often be penalised for what is commonly known as ‘fading’. Don't for one second believe that players who appear baffled don't know what they are doing, or not doing (especially in the front row, where there is very little give and take! You will have noticed that this tactic was not used in the next game against the HurricanesJ

4. Name: Carolyn Janse van Vuuren

Question: Jonathan, is it possible to start a match with a penalty kick?  Not restarting a match - I now that is possible.

Thank you
Carolyn     

Jonathan Kaplan: To the best of my knowledge ‘no’ , although I would have loved to in the recent test match between Wales and the All Blacks when the two teams stood after the haka and it was a long time before I could get the game going.

5. Name: Mike Greyling

Question: In the Blues-Tahs game about midway in the first half a blues player  kicks the ball forward, where it is gathered by one his own players on the ground after an earlier collision. The referee awards a penalty for offside.  On the surface obvious, with the exception that the player who kicked the ball forward had run past the player on the ground by the time the ball reached him.  Did the kicker put him onside?  Is this neated by the fact that he (being on the ground) had not made any attempt to move outside the 10m.  And finally assuming he onside could he play the ball without getting to his feet given that he passed immediately as Law 14.1 requires?   

Jonathan Kaplan: The decision is correct. Players who do not make an effort to get out of the 10m area  are liable to penalty. Nothing his team does matters if he does not make an effort. Players on the ground after a tackle must get to their feet before they can play the ball.