We are so fortunate to be able to ask refereeing questions to one of the top referees in the world, one of the top in the world in his field. It does not happen too often in life.

1. Name: Derek Summers 

Question: What are some of your talking points you like to go through when you meet with the teams for your pre-match chat? I'm sure it varies at each level but surely there are some things that can be helpful to go over at all levels of the game. Any tips?

Mark Lawrence: Hi Derek,

The pre-match chat has become a very useful tool in the referee's toolbox! The days of referees  “catching out” teams infringing laws are archaic and nowadays we  are more transparent to both teams to assist them in playing within the laws of the game.

In New Zealand, it is law to speak to the front rows. It is a liability aspect in their law and accordingly all referees must speak to the front rows to explain exactly what is expected. Other countries referees have followed suit. This provides the opportunity to address any other  issues you may have with the team or players. You may remind the scrumhalf of his obligation to feed the ball credibly at the scrum, or remind the hooker to stand 2m away at a defensive line-out. The objective  is really to use the opportunity to eliminate possible problems before the game starts rather than during the game, thereby often making things a little easier for yourself too! 

Hope that helps you to come up with your own ideas

Regards, Mark 

2. Name: Morgan Davies 

Question: I hope that this e-mail finds you in good spirits and health.

I have looked in the 2009 IRB law book and cannot find the answer to the following question:

Can you kick the ball directly into touch from a mark?

Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to answer questions in this column.

Mark Lawrence: Hi Morgan,

Thanks for the question and yes, we are well thanks and getting into the business end of the Currie Cup.

 It is interesting to note that at a “mark “ a KICK is awarded. However, Law 18.5 does specify that the provisions of law 21 Free kick apply to the kick awarded from a mark.

Law 19 Touch further clarifies the provisions of the Fee kick  with law 19.1 (k) and states that when a free kick awarded within the 22 the team can gain ground by kicking it out directly.

The exact wording is quoted below for you.

Law 19.1 FREE KICK

(j) Outside the kicker’s 22, no gain in ground. When a free kick awarded outside the 22 goes directly into touch, the throw-in is in line with where the ball was kicked, or where it went into touch, whichever is nearer the kicker’s goal line.
(k) Inside the kicker’s 22 or in-goal, gain in ground. When a free kick is awarded in the 22 or in-goal and the kick goes directly into touch, the throw-in is where the ball went into touch.

Hope that helps and trust you too are in good health and spirit.

Kind regards, Mark

3. Name: Wesley van der Linde

Question: Hi Mark

If a ruck has been formed and the defending team have surrendered the ball to the opposition (by no longer competing), would a top panel referee intentionally allow any ruck infringements such as entry and going off one's feet to go unnoticed just to keep the game flowing (in view that the attacking team has won the ball regardless). The reason I ask this question is because I want to know if that is a tactic to keep the game flowing (if someone's infringement has no actual bearing on a teams advantage/disadvantage) or should I blow any infringements even if there is no real influence. Another good example is being offside - in soccer an offside player is not blown up unless he/she is having an influence.

Thanks

Grace and Peace
Wesley van der Linde

Mark Lawrence: Hi Wesley,

Thanks for an interesting question. I think you already have the answer by ruling on influence but for clarity let me firstly state that under NO circumstances do you turn a blind eye to an infringement by either team. The tools you have for addressing the infringement is threefold.  Penalise immediately, play advantage or rule no influence and play on. The first two are obvious but on the third point of no influence or materiality, it is essential  that the infringement is still dealt with. Now how do you deal with an infringement when you play on? Quite simply at the next stoppage, you must address and caution the player and captain that his player infringed and also tell the opposing captain that you have seen the infringement and because the was no materiality you have played on but you have warned the player concerned. Both teams appreciate this contribution to the game!

The expert on materiality is an ex-international referee called Coris Thomas, now with the IRB. He does a presentation on materiality which he calls De Minimus. This is a legal term which means the law does not concern itself with trivialities! It is a brilliant presentation  with clips where he shows us where one can apply DE Mininus. My clip was at a line-out. Team B jumped early. They came down and then team A jumped and won  the ball cleanly and uncontested. The ball went to the scrumhalf who kicked out gaining 20m. I came back and gave a  free kick for early jumping/lifting. Team A got the ball and kicked out gaining 15m. His point to me  was,  wouldn't it have been better to play on and rule no influence and then at the next line-out,  warn team B not to jump early and tell team A  you have dealt with the early lift. 

Makes a lot of sense, but let me warn you that applying materiality is not easy. You run the risk of being inconsistent in your decisions and teams hate that. It takes a lot of practice and you have to be a very good communicator to apply De Minimus.  If you aren't good at it please don't use it as you could ruin the game. 

Hope that gives you some insight to what we do at international level.

Keep well and wishing you peace and God’s grace too

Regards, Mark

4. Name: Guy Braithwaite

Question: There was a case in Saturday's Test in Perth when John Smit of South Africa was penalised for wrongful entry at a tackle. It was a pretty gross infringement. In fact it was so gross that I looked at it again to see why Smit queried the referee's penalty. This led me to a question.

If a ball-carrier's is knocked down - tackled in layman's terms - to the ground but not held, must opposition players approach the ball 'through the gate'?

Mark Lawrence: Hello Guy,

In short the answer is No

It is important to note that a ball-carrier knocked to the ground but not held, is NOT tackled and thus the tackle laws do not apply.

Law 15 -  Ball on the ground – No tackle applies as well as law 11 offside and onside in general play.

Law 15 DEFINITIONS
 
 A tackle occurs when the ball-carrier is held by one or more opponents and is  brought to ground.
 A ball-carrier who is not held is not a tackled player and a tackle has not taken  place.
 
 Law 11 DEFINITION
 In general play a player is offside if the player is in front of a team-mate who is
carrying the ball, or in front of a team-mate who last played the ball.
 
 Law 11.1 OFFSIDE IN GENERAL PLAY
(a) A player who is in an offside position is liable to penalty only if the player does one of three
things:
• Interferes with play or,
• Moves forward, towards the ball or
• Fails to comply with the 10-Metre Law (Law 11.4).
A player who is in an offside position is not automatically penalised.
A player who receives an unintentional throw forward is not offside.
A player can be offside in the in-goal.
(b) Offside and interfering with play. A player who is offside must not take part in the game.
This means the player must not play the ball or obstruct an opponent.
(c) Offside and moving forward. When a team-mate of an offside player has kicked ahead, the offside player must not move towards opponents who are waiting to play the ball, or move towards the place where the ball lands, until the player has been put onside.

Hope that helps you answer your question

Regards, Mark