Obstruction/Crossing over in mid field?

athtrasna

I posted this in the match thread but people to busy venting on the "performance" to notice so I thought I'd ask separately.

When I was studying the rules of the game, I was taught that it is illegal to block a player of the opposite team from making a tackle on the ball carrier and also that it is illegal to cross your own ball carrier if so doing would impede a tackle.

But Wales did it repeatedly yesterday and the referee didn't even caution them?? Has the rule changed? If not why did the referee not take it seriously yesterday?

daveyrovers

I'll answer your post as best I can but I may not be bang on right. The law is very difficult to police as a lot of backs moves involve dummy runners so players can get in front of the ball carrier. However they have to be seen in the referees eyes to genuinely be obstructing a potential tackler. Everytime the Welsh did that the Irish player been obstructed was ROG and everyone knows he's not a potential tackler.


A Joke I don't want to hear from all the ROG supporters I was just kidding.

Stev_o

Completely depends on the referee but generally these days refs will call obstruction when a dummy runner actually makes contact with a potential tackler.

athtrasna

Thanks for the answers - I won't keep shouting it at the referee next time then!