There is still no sign that questions to referees will ever cease. But this is a small batch for Jonathan Kaplan to answer.

1.  Name: Sinethemba Mrulwa

Question: Hi, Jonathan.

I don't know if its too much to ask for,

I am a young, up coming referee who has a desire to excel & be among the best referees in the Western Province and in South Africa.  I would love to have your latest match DVDs of your local & international match.

Having and analysing them will help to develop my refereeing but not to be a copycat - to learn as I have in your games.

My address: H225. Nokwazi Square, Khayelitsha, Cape Town.7784.   
Contact 0793166817

Jonathan Kaplan: I am sure Western Province referees society will be able to help you in this regard. some of what I do is a little unorthodox, so perhaps only concentrate on the good stuff. I have only one copy that is usually made for me for analysis post match.

Good luck with your career in refereeing!

2. Name: Snies du Preez

Question: Why are referees always saying Please and Thank you. The players are not doing them a favour. It's not a personal issue though the I want referees seem to think it is. The referee is there helping them to play and seeing fair play. The players are not doing him a favour. I find this Please, Thank you and I want ridiculous.

Jonathan Kaplan: I think it is just an effort on the part of certain referees to be courteous. As long as there isn't too much of it, along with constant smiling and back slapping, I don't think it is bad.

3. Name: Bryan Combrinck

Question: Not just a question. You are wrong, Mr Kaplan, there have been free kicks for foot-up at a scrum. I saw two of them at Craven Week. Are laws for Craven Week different from those for big people?

Jonathan Kaplan: As stated, I have not seen one for 26 years. I very much doubt whether they were for foot up! Perhaps not in straight?

Some laws for schoolboy rugby are different from those for senior rugby, e.g. if the scrum is wheeled, it doesn't matter who is in possession of the ball, it goes back to the team who fed the ball.

4. Name: Norman  Toerien

Question: Hi there, guys;.

My question is regarding the player that stands between the touchline and 5 meter at the line out. I noticed that referees enforce that there needs to be a player but according Law 19.7 (f) the wording states that the team not throwing in MAY have a player in that position and not MUST have one.

if this is a choice why do referees insist that there must be a player in the trams?

Hope to hear from you soon and keep up the good work.

Regards, Norman     

Jonathan Kaplan: The law has changed and most teams should be aware of it.

Law 19.8 (j) Player between touch and five metres. The team not throwing in must have a player standing between the touchline and the 5-metre line on that team’s side of the line of touch when the line-out is formed. That player must stand two metres from the line of touch and two metres from the five metres line.
Penalty: Free Kick on the 15-metre line

5. Name: Butch Deuchar

Question: It is recorded that Bakkies Botha was sin-binned for an offside offence in the 2nd Test. but it appeared to me that he was penalised for  impeding the New Zealand  player while contesting for the ball in the air moments prior which I believe to be a correct decision by Nigel Owens. Can you perhaps comment on the decision. 

Jonathan Kaplan: Butch, the iconic coach from UCT. How are you?

I have spoken with Nigel after the test and his view was that Bakkies was penalised for offside after New Zealand move which had swept 70m downfield. To me it is unclear whether he impedes New Zealand player, but it is clear that he does play the ball backwards in the direction of his own goal line, otherwise it would have been a knock on against New Zealand.