Jonathan Kaplan, the most capped Test referee in the history of the game, answers readers' questions.

1. Name: Deon Strydom 

Question: Short one.  Please advise the signal (for the benefit of the sideline spectators) to use for indicating a ruck or maul was formed. I have a lot of problems with spectators not understanding or knowing the law concerning rucks and mauls. Penalties awarded from offences at the ruck and mauls are always questioned, week after week. 

Keep up the good work. The people in New Zealand think you guys are tops!

Jonathan Kaplan: Fortunately there is no signal. Otherwise we would start to look like traffic conductors.

South African rugby referees are doing their best; there are good structures in place and great domestic competitions to test our ability on an ongoing basis. 

2. Name: Johan Snyman 

Question: Downward Pressure.

The past week the commentators at the Craven Week keep on talking about downward pressure when the referee referred  the scoring of a try to the TMO.

I watched a Boots and All programme with André Watson a while back where he explained that downward pressure was not the issue but as long as there was contact between the ball, the ground and for example the hands of the player scoring the try then it was a try, no matter on which part of the ball the contact was. Be it on the side on top, etc. I'm not sure what part of the players body touching the ball will constitute a legal try.

Can you please confirm that it is still the case or if the law has changed what is the latest?

Jonathan Kaplan: You are correct. As long as the player is carrying the ball, he only needs to bring the ball into contact with the ground. if however, he is not carrying the ball, then he does need to put downward pressure on the ball if it is bouncing in in-goal ! that is the difference. a try is scored between the hips and the shoulders.

3. Name: Delion Green

Question:  I cannot understand Marius Jonker's decision to disallow a clearly and unquestionable try in the last minutes of the game Lion vs Waratahs.

Why did he not confirm with your touch judge and TV ref that an illegal try was scored?

Surely he had all the necessary technology to assist him in this matter yet he made no use of it.

Jonathan Kaplan: I think you are referring to the ruling that Marius made in respect of a forward pass close to the tryline. if this is the case, then you are wrong. He does not have the technology which would cover that area of the field.. TMO can only rule on matters in in-goal and the act of scoring. if there is a knock, etc, in the field of play then it is up to the onfield match officials to make the right call .

4. Name: Ian Cook 

Question: The contentious issue of ruck entry has reared its ugly head again with the controversial suspension of Bakkies Botha for a shoulder charge while clearing out. This is an area which, in my opinion, elite referees tend not to police strictly enough. Even though a memo from the IRB was issued in August last year, specifying zero tolerance of players breaking Laws 10.4 (j) and 16.2 (b), we still see numerous examples of players charging into rucks dangerously, and without binding, going unpunished. I hope we are going to see the head/shoulder first flying entry to the ruck removed from the game as I believe the binding and driving technique is more skilful. 

What do you think? Will this go from the game entirely, or is it still going to be tolerated at the "showbiz" end of the game?

[NB Law 10.4 (j) Dangerous play in a scrum, ruck or maul. The front row of a scrum must not rush against
its opponents.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Front row players must not intentionally lift opponents off their feet or force them upwards out of the scrum.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Players must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto a player in the ruck or maul.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Players must not intentionally collapse a scrum, ruck or maul.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

Law 16.2 (b) A player joining a ruck must bind onto the ruck with at least one arm around the body of a team-mate, using the whole arm.
Penalty: Penalty Kick]

Jonathan Kaplan: This is a huge area of debate at the moment. Whilst the laws state that players must bind onto a team mate on entry, it is almost impractical to apply (for player and referee). if applied as per law, it would almost certainly change the shape of the game as we know it. Imagine a ruck/maul forming, and a player having to wait for an arriving team mate before he joins the ruck/maul. The ‘clean-out’ as it is known would cease to exist. In addition, I believe it is not possible to not lead with your head and or shoulders (as long as it is not done in a malicious manner), but obviously one must use arms in the clean out!

South African rugby has written in to the IRB for clarity on the matter and this website will revert when we receive an answer.

5. Name: Derek Summers 

Question: A player is reaching down to grab a loose ball and does so but is immediately held by an opponent. (Let's just say it was in a Sevens game and it looked very strange). The player with possession has one hand holding the ball and one hand on the ground.  The ball is not emerging because his opponent is holding onto him.  Technically this is not exactly a ruck or a maul. So what would be the correct decision? Is this a penalty for holding on, and to whom? Or a scrum restart for the ball being unplayable. Thanks.

Jonathan Kaplan:  If the player in possession has only his hand on the ground, then it's a play-on situation as he has not been tackled as per the definition. If the opponent is on the ground then it would be his responsibility to let go of the ball-carrier as he is now out of the game.