The match Marius refereed on Friday broke many Super Rugby records - 72-65, 9 tries each. It's not often that a team scores 65 points and loses - perhaps in basketball but not in rugby. As he recovers Marius answers readers' questions.

I got an e-mail from a man called Hennie. I should live to have his question answered but it would be good if he gave his surname and his e-mail address and tried to clean up his text into something more presentable.

1. Name: Andy Porter

Question: Hi,

I coach an Under-14 side and work a lot on the basics. A key law we instill in the players is that the ball is meant to be passed back. Why do elite referees allow forward passes on a regular basis. Surely players will do what they can get away with and if penalised they would stop. Aren't there parts of the game that should be protected from TV to ensure the game doesn't lose it's soul?

Cheers, Andy

Marius Jonker: Hi Andy.

None of the top referees, in fact no referee, allows forward passes willingly. It is a matter of missing such a pass because of the speed of the game.

It is also true that the human eye sometimes gets deceived and a pass that looks forward inf act is not.

Television has become part of the game and I cannot see how certain parts of the game can be screened and certain not when a broadcast takes place.

Good luck with those Under-14s.

Regards, Marius.

2. Name: Derek Summers

Question: I am 22 years old and have been refereeing in the US for almost two years and I am starting to move up in the ranks to do more men's club level games. Do you have any advice for dealing with players who may not be too enthused with being penalized by someone almost half their age?

Marius Jonker: Hi Derek.

Good to see young referees coming through. I also heard that refereeing and rugby in general is really growing in US.

I am sure the older bullets won't always want to take advice from a youngster.

Referee what you see, be as accurate as possible and you will earn their trust. You will soon notice this.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers, Marius.

3. Name: Jackson Smit

Question: Does the offside rule on kicking apply to kicks out of a team's own try zone? For instance do players who chase a kick have to be behind the kicker in the try zone to be onside before they move forward to put their other teammates onside?

Marius Jonker: Hi Jackson.

Yes, the offside law is applicable in ingoal. In other words offside in ingoal is an infringement.

Regards, Marius

4. Name: Bunny Bolton

Question: 72-65! How did you feel after that?

Marius Jonker: Hi Bunny.

Good to hear from you again!

What a great and somewhat strange game it was?

I was not tired after that but I can tell you that I did realise that I had run when I got up the following morning.

Defence was not great on the night but both teams were outstanding with ball in hand. A priviledge to be involved in this particular freakish occasion.

Sometimes games like these come along to show everyone out there that referees knows actually are training and in fact are fit, hey!

All the best, Marius.

5. Name: Drew Last Richardson

Question: Ruck forms in the attacking team's half. The ball passed 10-15 meters to the fly half who attempts to kick. One of the defending team is moving towards the kicker but is still 5-7 meters away when the kick is made. Because it is a poor kick he is able to reflexively touch it as it goes past. It is unclear if he is trying to catch the ball or block it. After the defending player touches it, it falls into the arms of an attacking player retreating from the ruck.

As I interpret the laws, if you consider the defending player's act a charge down then everyone is on-side. If it was an attempted catch then the attacking player is offside.

My question relates to interpretation of the charge down. How do you decide what is an attempt to block or to catch? Is it to do with proximity to the kicker or perception of his intent? If the kick is hard and low and a player 5+ meters away throws his arms in the air in an attempt to block it, is that still a charge down?

Sincerely, Drew

Marius Jonker: Hi Drew.

You answered part of this question yourself.

In most cases it should be quite clear to any referee what action by a player indicates an attempted catch and what indicates a charge down.

If there is doubt the referee needs to make a decision on what he saw at that time.

As per your question, distance from the kicker and action by yhe catcher/blocker will play a role.

Regards, Marius