Marius Jonker, back from a stint in Australasia and about to see fair play between the Bulls and the Lions at Loftus Versfeld, answers readers' questions. 

1. Name: Alfred Ross

Question: In Saturday's game between the Sharks and Lions No.3 of the Lions was replaced by No.18. No.18 went off with a blood injury and was replaced by No.3. When No.18 came back from the blood bin No.1 of the Lions went off. I believe No.3 should have gone off as he was the blood replacement for No.18.

Marius Jonker: Hi Alfred.

The chain of events as described by you is correct.

When No.18 returned from the bloodbin he replaced No.1 which makes it a substitution and not a replacement returning.

All within law.

Regards, Marius.
 
2. Name: Arturas Koniuchovas

Question: Time is gone. Result is 20-18. The losing team is attacking in the winning team's 22. Suddenly you see that the winning team one of the player begins fighting with the player in the attacking team 22. What to do? Bring penalty back for 60m?

Thank you.

Marius Jonker: Hi Arturas.

You'll have to assess the situation. Hopefully your assistant referees will get involved and you can concentrate on what is happening in front of you.

Play on until the ball next becomes dead, and then deal with the foul play. If however it becomes a major brawl you will have to stop the game, assess what happened, and take action accordingly.

Regards, Marius.

3. Name: Willem du Plessis

Question: Hi,
 
Referring to the Bulls 3rd Try against Chiefs 2010:
 
Right after the Fourie du Preez break and ensuing ruck leading up to the try the ball is moved to the right where another ruck is formed. At this ruck, whilst Fourie du Preez considers his options and with hands on the ball, the ball appears to roll forward (towards the Chiefs goal line) on the ground before play continued to his left.

In this situation, was it not a knock-on by Fourie or could this action be considered ?ok? or as the ball never travelled forward in the air before hitting the ground?
 
Thanks
 
PS. I also believe Brendon Leonard was at least five paces in front of the kick that led to his try in that same game. . .

Marius Jonker: Hi Willem.

I cannot recall this incident but if the ball moved forward from Fourie's hand towards the Chief's goalline then it should have been ruled as a knock on.

Remember that we, as referees, act on the clear and obvious.

Regards, Marius.
 
4. Name: Robert Burns
 
Question: Hello.
 
Being a referee I was interested in Craig Joubert's decision to penalise Beale for offside in the Crusaders vs Waratah's game. I realise Craig had to make a split second call on it and has no luxury of replays as I had, and at first glance the call looked good. However, looking at the replay has left a debate between a few of our referees. The debate centres on the Waratah player lying on the floor, not participating in the game, at the back of the ruck preceding the offside decision. Is this player classed as part of the ruck or not? If he is, the offside line is his hindmost foot, if not, the offside line is about 0,5m forward. One puts Beale (and most of the Waratahs players) offside, and the other puts Beale onside.
 
Thanks for your assistance.
 
Robert

Marius Jonker: Hi Robert.

Good question.

I saw this incident and also discussed it with Craig. The player on the ground was not part of the ruck\maul and Beale was not offside. Craig does not get many wrong but this one he did.

Regards, Marius.

5. Name: Rusty Cohen
 
Question: Can a rugby referee change his mind?
 
It happened on Saturday near Paarl in the Cape when Bishops played Boland Landbou. Bishops scored a try from far out. The referee gave the try but his touch judge, who was also wearing refs' colours, told him there had been foul play by a Bishops boy. The referee cancelled the try and sent off the Bishops boy. He gave Boland Landbou a penalty where the foul had been committed.
 
The Bishops people were cross with the ref and shouted at him, which I am sure is wrong. The Bishops people thought that the ref should have given the try and then a penalty to Boland Landbou on the halfway line.
 
Is that right?

Marius Jonker: Hi Rusty.

It is not clear whether the foulplay took place before the try was scored by Bishops. If this is the case then the referee was correct. If the foulplay took place after the try had been scored then the try should stand and the referee needs to deal with the incident as required.

Cheers, Marius.