The light went out at the posh Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday night, a rare problem for a referee, but the lights are back on and Mark Lawrence is answering readers' questions.

1 Name: Paul Worsley 

Question: Hi Guys,

With tongue firmly in cheek, have the Springboks turned into women?

I'm not referring to their playing ability but rather that several Springboks are clearly wearing chest pads/guards.

Law book is specific about only Women being allowed to wear them.

I assume it is the referee that's responsible for adherence to this part of the law?

Mark Lawrence: Hello Paul,

Yes, the referee is responsible and so are his assistant referees. They do a boot and clothing inspection 40 minutes before kick-off and then again as the players exit the change room. Most safety gear must be padding that is no thicker than half a centimetre uncompressed and these days all safety gear must bear the IRB logo of approval.

Now regarding the Springboks wearing chest pads.  I believe they do so to stop the opposition from hurting themselves when they try to tackle the Boks head on!

Tongue firmly in cheek, of course

Kind regards, Mark

2. Name: Carlos Romero

Question:  Hi there

According to IRB LAWS 2010 A team must not use the 'Flying Wedge' or the 'Cavalry Charge'.

Sanction: Penalty kick at the place of the original infringement.

I don't think that this is a matter of control now a days because all the support players in the multi-phase attacks tend to catch hold of the ball-carrier before that player has come into contact with an opponent. I want to know what do you think about it or Is there any regulation about that?

Mark Lawrence: Hello Carlos,

The Flying Wedge or the Cavalry Charge applies at only a free kick or penalty kick. It is a safety issue designed especially for school children where one player could be far bigger than his opponent through puberty. It could prove dangerous for the underdeveloped teenager to try and stop a well developed player who got a running start. I can say that in the old days rugby was dangerous and sex was safe but today sex is dangerous and rugby is safe - thanks to laws like these.

Thank you for your question

Regards, Mark

3. Name: Hannes Cilliers 

Question: To clear up all 50/50 decisions and interpretations in a game, I suggest that there is a post match-conference between the captains and coaches of each team and media to have a chance to question the referee's calls in a game. Each team should be allowed to get an explanation for 5/10 incidents in a game.

This will help the referee to clear his name (if possible) on the calls he made. Nobody believes the current system of referees being judged by a panel is working or that there are any punishment for wrong doing. I believe that the image of referees will be greatly improved if they apologise for bad performances and make a greater effort in providing the public with a fair contest.

The game belongs to the fans and at the moment not one fan believes that referees are unbiased.

Your thoughts on such a system?

Mark Lawrence: Hello Hannes,

Thanks for the opportunity to answer your questions.

Referees are quite happy to attend press conferences, which in fact was brought in at super 12 level, many years ago. It was requested again this year but the fact is we are seldom asked to attend. Often the media don't have questions for us to field and I suppose if there was something controversial, you wouldn't want a good explanation, as sensation sells.

I disagree when you say the game belongs to the fans. Coaches, referees and administrators meet every year to improve the product which we provide for you to watch as entertainment. There are other products like soccer or tennis that you can watch if you don't like ours. Buying and using Colgate toothpaste,  doesn't mean the company now belongs to you. Similarly, rugby is a product that we sell to TV, spectators, advertisers, etc, Enjoy it as much as we enjoy providing it.

Lastly, a fan is someone who supports a team. He is openly biased in his support for that team. They even wear the team jersey and paint themselves in the team colours. I can't see how this biased supporter can in any way judge whether a referee is biased or not. That is the “pot calling the kettle black”  What I can say is that there are selectors from around the world judging referee performance.

In Super 14, there are 3 selectors who discuss each referee every week. There is a performance reviewer and a match reviewer. One deducts marks for every referee-non compliance; the other  measures the outcome of a referee's performance. Each coach also submits his review of the referee. All this is considered by the selectors after every match.

Talk about being scrutinised! Did you know that constitutionally, every employee in this country may have his performance evaluated four times a year. Referees are being evaluated 40 times a year. Do we not have the same constitutional rights as every one else? 

So to answer your question. I think our system is still better than the one you proposed, but we are always open to comments and suggestions, and we are always listening.

I trust you are not offended by my answer but feel more comfortable now that you read just some of the facts from the other side.

Thanks for supporting rugby

Regards, Mark

4. Name: Andy Davies

Question: Hi there.

When I was watching the game between the Free State Cheetahs and the Griquas, the Cheetahs's No.8 was sent to the sin-bin for jumping in front of his teammate. When he was given a talking to by Mark Lawrence (who has amazing hair - nice highlights!) who said that one of the things they were trying to get out of the game was this. What are the other things that are trying to be eradicated from the game in the Currie Cup?

Warm regards, Andy Davies

Mark Lawrence: Hi there Andy,

Thanks for the comments on the highlights!! As a commentator recently said, I am a natural for the highlights channel!

You raise a good point. What are the areas referees are focusing on in Currie Cup.

The boss, Andre Watson, refers to them as the Big 6.

!) Tackler away; 2) obstruction at kicks (as Cheetahs No.8); 3) obstruction pre-maul formation at line-outs and kick-offs; 4) zero tolerance at scrums; 5) offside players advancing ahead of the kicker and 6) players to be behind the last feet at rucks and mauls. The last two points try to create the space players need to attack rather than kick the ball back because defence is on them so quickly.

All the other laws still apply, these are just the areas where the referees became slack in applying and players pushed the these laws to the boundaries and beyond.

Hope you are finding the games more entertaining than last year's with accent on the big 6. Stats show a big improvement.

Kind regards, Mark

5. Name: Maurice Markus 

Question: Bal kom van losgemaal in kwartgebied. 'n Verligtende skop word afgestorm deur speler van die aanvallende span. 'n Ander speler wat voor die afgestormde speler was speel die bal en gaan druk. Is dit 'n drie of is die speler onkant en moes daar 'n strafskop aan die verdedigende span gegee gewees het?          

Mark Lawrence: Hello Maurice,

Mark Lawrence: Yes, there is confusion amongst some players as there is a general belief that a charge-down puts everyone onside. This is not correct.

A charge-down puts only the kicker's team onside. The teammates of the player charging down the ball cannot be in front of where the ball was charged down. They must fall back onside or be put onside by the action of the kicking team.

I have quoted the law below for you to read. Law 11 .2 and 3 offside and onside in general play.

Law 11.2 BEING PUT ONSIDE BY THE ACTION OF A TEAM-MATE
In general play, there are three ways by which an offside player can be put onside by actions of that player or of team mates:
(a) Action by the player. When the offside player runs behind the team-mate who last kicked, touched or carried the ball, the player is put onside.
(b) Action by the ball carrier. When a team-mate carrying the ball runs in front of the offside player, that player is put onside.
(c) Action by the kicker or other onside player. When the kicker, or team-mate who was level with or behind the kicker when (or after) the ball was kicked, runs in front of the offside player, the player is put onside. When running forward, the team-mate may be in touch or touch-in-goal, but that team-mate must return to the playing area to put the player onside.

Law 11.3 BEING PUT ONSIDE BY OPPONENTS
In general play, there are three ways by which an offside player can be put onside by an action of the opposing team. These three ways do not apply to a player who is offside under the 10-Metre Law.
(a) Runs 5 metres with ball. When an opponent carrying the ball runs 5 metres, the offside player is put onside.
(b) Kicks or passes. When an opponent kicks or passes the ball, the offside player is put onside.
(c) Intentionally touches ball. When an opponent intentionally touches the ball but does not catch it, the offside player is put onside.

Cheers, Mark

6. Name: Bunny Bolton

Question: I watched Friday night's match in Port Elizabeth when the lights went out.

I'd like to know who runs Currie Cup rugby - SARU or the referee or the referee and the coaches or television? Who can decide to play short time to fit in with the next match. Are the players and the spectators at a match not entitled to the full 80 minutes?

I must say I was appalled.

Mark Lawrence: Bunny,

Not sure if you are appalled by the way the problem was handled, as I was the referee, or at Escom because of the black out but nevertheless you ask an interesting question

Law 5 deals with time.

The lights went out at half-time, just before the start of the second half. Law 5.2 states half-time may last no longer than 10 minutes.

Half-time expired. Law 5.7 (d) states that the referee has the power to end a match at anytime, if he believes that play could be dangerous.

If applied stringently, I could have ended it all there as I could have deemed it dangerous to play in poor lighting. Game, set and match.

I didn't believe it was dangerous and was happy to start play as there was enough light for the naked eye but on consultation with TV, it was too dark for you all to see at home.

Law 5.7 (b) applies. The union may decide the length of the match. The TMO/timekeeper called the SA Rugby Union by name Steven Roos who is in charge of competition regulations. He was unavailable.

Law 5.7 (c) applies. If the union does not decide, the teams agree on the length of the match. The managers, taking into account that there was an international match scheduled for 19.00 and the fact that TV, in discussions with the producer, may not be able to complete transmission of the match unless it was shortened, graciously agreed to 30 minutes.

Imagine watching a movie and 10 minutes from the end, TV cuts it off to start another program. You would always wonder how it ended.

Also, these days teams have a precise warm up and peak  to the match. How fair is it to the two international teams to have the preparation spoilt?

With everything running to a minute by minute run sheet, the teams would be disrupted

At that point TV informed us that they could fit in 40 minutes but no time for stoppages. Again both sides agreed but if they couldn't agree, the referee decides the length of the match. 

In the end everyone got the full value as we completed a half without stoppage for injury, or assistant referee report or having to stop for subs.

All within law too.

Law 5.4 (a) gives the referees a choice whether to allow or minute for injury or to play on if a medically trained person is attending to an injury.

This together with a positive attitude from both teams made for what was one of the best and most memorable second halves I have seen in a long time.

I think both teams should be commended for not allowing life’s unpredictability to spoil the night for them and the viewing public both at the ground and on TV. Well done Eastern Province Kings and Griffons!

Trust you are feeling slightly less appalled.

Mark

Law 5.2 HALF-TIME
After half-time the teams change ends. There is an interval of not more than 10 minutes. The length of the interval is decided by the match organiser, the Union or the recognised body which has jurisdiction over the game. During the interval the teams, the referee and the touch judges may leave the playing enclosure.
A Union having jurisdiction over a match below international level may permit an interval of not more than 15 minutes.

Law 5.7 OTHER TIME REGULATIONS
(d) The referee has the power to end the match at any time, if the referee believes that play should not continue because it would be dangerous.
(b) In non-international matches a Union may decide the length of a match.
(c) If the Union does not decide, the teams agree on the length of a match. If they cannot agree, the referee decides.

Law 5.4 TIME LOST
Time lost may be due to the following:
(a) Injury. The referee may stop play for not more than one minute so that an injured player can be treated, or for any other permitted delay.
The referee may allow play to continue while a medically trained person treats an injured player in the playing area or the player may go to the touchline for treatment.