Marius Jonker, soon to head north for the excitement of the Calcutta Cup, answers readers' questions.
 
1. Name: Kai Taylor
 
Question: Greetings from Vancouver Canada.
 
Scrum. The attacking No. 8 breaks bind but still has hands on scrum with straight arms but does not pick up ball. Is ball out? Same with flank that has ball at feet. The flank breaks bind and picks up ball. Is it legal, or only legal if scrum has rotated and flank is last man?
 
What would the calls be?
 
Regards, Kai

Marius Jonker: Hi Kai.

The no 8 needs to be bound with at least one shoulder for the ball to be deemed 'not out'. If both shoulders are off and ball at his feet, the ball is out and it is 'play on'.

A flanker may not break his bind and play the ball at his feet. This will be deemed as handling the ball whilst in the scrum.

Regards, Marius.
 
2. Name: Morgan Davies
 
Question: Before I get to my question, I must say that this website is a terrific resource for both rugby fans and aspiring referees.
 
Now onto my question, what is the decision making process, if any, you go through before referring a decision to the television match official?

Marius Jonker: Hi Morgan.

There are different reasons why we consult the television match official and these vary between checking whether the ball was grounded, ball lost in in-goal, touch-in-goal etc.

At the end of the day it is a matter of making sure of what happened in in-goal when you as referee are unable to because of your positioning at the time.

If the scenario is of such that an attacking player goes over for a try, is tackled at the same time, the cornerpost comes in play, etc, you would ask the television match official to confirm try or no try. In the case where, for example, five players from the attacking team go over the try-line and common sense tells you it has to be a try you would ask the television match official to 'give you a reason not to award the try'.

In the case of suspected foal play in in-goaAl in the process of scoring a try you may call upon the television match official to assist as well.

The above all comes down to one thing. . . . . . making sure and getting it right.

Cheers, Marius.
 
3. Name: Matthew Tait
 
Question: Many times are the referees not in the right position in the in-goal area to award a try and end up going to the television match official. How will those refs cope without television match official, are they quick and fit enough? 
 
Marius Jonker: Hi Matthew.

I think the television match official certainly proved his worth and is a great tool to have.

We, as referees, undergo fitness tests throughout the year but I think that I can speak for all of us when I say we would rather have the television match official than be without him.

Regards, Marius.

4. Name: François van Rooyen

Question: Hallo, Marra,

Die wedstryd tussen die Stormers en die Brumbies was Bryan Habana drie- of vierkeer geblaas wat 100% reg is, maar daar was been keer waar Bryan die baldraer gelos het op sy voete van agter af gekom het en die bal gespeel sy kneë het nie die baldraer geraak nie een daar was geen twyfel dat Bryan verkeerd was nie. Die kommentators het selfs gesê dat die skeidsregter duidelik verkeerd was. Die reël sê mos die tackler moet die baldraer los en die baldraer moet die bal los maar in die geval het die baldraer nie die bal gelos nie en soos ek gesê het het Bryan als daar na reg gedoen. Die Stormers het toe 'n strafskop teen hul gekry. Ek sê nie die Stormers het verloor as gevolg daarvan nie, maar dinge kon anders gelyk het.

Groete Francois

Marius Jonker: Hi Francois.

Dankie vir die vraag.

Die 'tackler' moet na die tackle gemaak is die baldraer los en wegrol of op sy voete kom en mag dan die bal speel. Ons (skeidsregters) soek daglig tussen hom en die baldraer na die tackle gemaak is voor hy weer kan speel.

In die Bryan Habana insident waarna jy verwys, as ons van dieselfde een praat, is Bryan verkeerdelik gestraf. Craig het dit op die veld aan Bryan erken en Bryan het dit so aanvaar. Ons as skeidsregters maak van tyd tot tyd onakkurate beslissings en is ook bereid om dit te erken.

Craig het die betrokke wedstryd baie goed hanteer, is een van die wereld se top skeidsregters en, soos jy opgemerk het, was nie verantwoordelik dat die Stormers verloor het nie.

Groete, Marius.

NB François van Rooyen asks about a specific incident in the Stormers-Brumbies match at Newlands where Bryan Habana was penalised. He says Habana clearly released the ball-carrier, was on his feet and playing the ball. He believes that Habana should not have been penalised. Marius says that the referee acknowledged this and told Habana that he had erred.