Jonathan Kaplan has been busy answering referees' questions. He has a rest this weekend and then heads off to Australasia for Super 14 duty.

1. Name: Sean  Hutton

Question: Hi there.

This may seem fairly complicated so please deal with me.

The following scenario plays out.

The attacking team is awarded a penalty in the corner, on the 22 meter line and they decide to kick for goal.
The ref signals this and the assistant refs go behind the poles.

In the meantime, the defending team has all gathered behind the poles and not just 10 meters back.
(This is where I need clarification on the following 2 scenarios)
 
-The kicker miskicks, "shanks" the ball (unintentionally)  it travels more than 10 meters, although mostly along the ground, roles over the try line and the attacking team follows up and scores a try, because the defending team chose to gather behind the posts instead of the mandatory 10 meters. Is this allowed, because my understanding of the situation is that because it is a penalty, the ball is still alive and therefore as soon as the ball is kicked, play may continue.
 
Secondly, the exact same scenario, except the kicker kicks the ball intentionally and the same scenario unfolds.
 
Please let me know as soon as possible, as I had to call on this exact situation in a match today, and would like to know what to do should this happen again.
 
Regards
Sean Hutton

Jonathan Kaplan: Try in the first case. Penalty to the opposition in the second, as it falls under foul play and is contrary to the spirit of the game .   

2. Name: Summer Hanby

Question: Can a try be scored simply by touching the ball against a goalpost, or does it have to be at the base of the post? Also what happens when a charge down sends the ball directly into in-goal and is touched down by the team who initially kicked the ball outside their in-goal area?

Jonathan Kaplan: It must be at the base of the goal posts. In your second question it appears that the ball was kicked out of the in-goal area, and then charged down, in which case it is a 22m drop-out .

3. Name: Naas Ferreira

Question: I see the following fairly often. Player on the ground after but still in possession (before releasing) and players from both sides in contact that referees rule "ruck". Surely that cannot be a ruck with ball in possession even if the ball touches the ground.

Jonathan Kaplan: A ruck is defined as players in contact with each other over the ball . It would appear that this is the case in your example.