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sydthebeat · 18-01-2014 07:25PM

Can anyone clarify the "failure to grasp" penalty jp doyle called today in the Toulon versus warriors game against suta?

Taco Corp · 18-01-2014 07:39PM

sydthebeat wrote: »

Can anyone clarify the "failure to grasp" penalty jp doyle called today in the Toulon versus warriors game against suta?

I believe it was because the tackler didn't fully wrap his arms, unusual way to call it

sydthebeat · 27-01-2014 04:14PM

regarding the 'knock on'

A knock-on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm, or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it.

i was at a game yesterday where the weather was brutal and wind blowing all over the place.... a low head height kick is put in by team A and a player on team B, probably full back runs onto it but as he gets to it its obvious hes not going to catch it so he lets it hit him in the chest and the ball runs down onto his thigh and then foot where he kicks forward and chases...
Now the ref gives a knock on, the opposition supporters behind me say 'what was he doing thats an obvious knock on'... but in my eyes the player didnt try to gain possession by use of arms, the ball doesnt hit hand or arm.....

so is it a given if the ball goes forward off any part of the body but the legs its a default knock on?
and in the incident above is there any ambiguity?

jacothelad · 27-01-2014 04:35PM

sydthebeat wrote: »

regarding the 'knock on'

i was at a game yesterday where the weather was brutal and wind blowing all over the place.... a low head height kick is put in by team A and a player on team B, probably full back runs onto it but as he gets to it its obvious hes not going to catch it so he lets it hit him in the chest and the ball runs down onto his thigh and then foot where he kicks forward and chases...
Now the ref gives a knock on, the opposition supporters behind me say 'what was he doing thats an obvious knock on'... but in my eyes the player didnt try to gain possession by use of arms, the ball doesnt hit hand or arm.....

so is it a given if the ball goes forward off any part of the body but the legs its a default knock on?
and in the incident above is there any ambiguity?

Ref was wrong.

who_me · 27-01-2014 06:26PM

Possibly more of a refereeing question than a law question.. but anyway:

It seems to me that the refereeing of "a maul resulting from a choke tackle" is very different from "a maul resulting from a lineout". Unlike a normal maul, there seems to be very little attention paid to defending players being on (or joining) the wrong side of the choke-maul. Little or no attention paid to players bringing it down. While players are upright, the ref doesn't give warnings to the team in possession to use it but blows up for the turnover. And once it goes to ground the refs blow up almost instantly.

Has this been explicitly stated anywhere in the laws or refereeing directives? Or is it just how the referees happen to interpret the maul law?

It seems to be it's giving undue benefit to the defending side, while punishing the side attempting to play expansive rugby - without any real basis in the rugby laws. Much as it benefits the Irish sides, I'm not a fan of the interpretation.

former legend · 06-02-2014 04:22PM

IRB clarification on the forward pass rule:

"Match officials must first observe the trajectory of the ball as it leaves the player's hands. If this trajectory is not clear and evident, the direction of the hands could help the decision."

So this notion on boards.ie that the direction of the ball doesn't matter, only the movement of the hands, is hopefully finished.

Sangre · 06-02-2014 04:55PM

former legend wrote: »

IRB clarification on the forward pass rule:

"Match officials must first observe the trajectory of the ball as it leaves the player's hands. If this trajectory is not clear and evident, the direction of the hands could help the decision."

So this notion on boards.ie that the direction of the ball doesn't matter, only the movement of the hands, is hopefully finished.

Trajectory as it leaves the players hands - as in, was the ball thrown towards the player's own try line. The ball can still travel forward significantly due to momentum. The player's hands will indicate the trajectory.

former legend · 06-02-2014 05:00PM

Sangre wrote: »

Trajectory as it leaves the players hands - as in, was the ball thrown towards the player's own try line. The ball can still travel forward significantly due to momentum. The player's hands will indicate the trajectory.

Yes, definitely, but there have been cases recently (e.g. the Munster v Perpignan game) where the ball has clearly gone forward out of a player's hands and posters here have been saying "it doesn't matter, his hands went backwards".

The key point here is that trajectory of the ball relative to the passing player is the main focus, not the direction of his hands.

locum-motion · 06-02-2014 08:32PM

former legend wrote: »

Yes, definitely, but there have been cases recently (e.g. the Munster v Perpignan game) where the ball has clearly gone forward out of a player's hands and posters here have been saying "it doesn't matter, his hands went backwards".

The key point here is that trajectory of the ball relative to the passing player is the main focus, not the direction of his hands.

In response to this, I'm going to repost a post I posted in another thread which explains my understanding of why a pass that ends up closer to the oppositions try-line can actually be backwards. I'm including also the post to which i was replying at the time I posted it.

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Actually, the way forward passes are reffed is that if the players hands are moving in a backward direction (i.e. they are moving to throw the ball backwards) it is not a forward pass even if the ball goes forward. A ball slightly going forward could be due to a hand-slip, wind, the way the ball spins, any number of things.

locum-motion wrote: »

For a bit of surprising info as to what constitutes a forward pass, and what doesn't, watch this vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=box08lq9ylg

Or, to put it another way, in mathematical terms:
(anyone who has a grasp of vectors, speed and velocity will get what I'm on about here)

Assume the ball is travelling (in a player's hands) towards the opposition line at a velocity of x m/s (metres per second).
The player then passes the ball to a teammate who is running parallel and a couple of metres behind. While in the air, lets say that the ball is travelling at y m/s, but in a different direction.
Treat the velocity of the ball during the pass as a vector, and resolve it into two components, one perpendicular to the touchline, and one parallel to the touchline. Call the parallel component z.

Now, some people seem to think that z has to be negative for a pass to be backward. It doesn't. As long as z < x, the pass is backward.
If the ball is moving towards the opposing line at 10 m/s in the player's hands, and is moving towards the opposing line at 5 m/s during the pass, then that's a backward pass.

Podge_irl · 06-02-2014 08:35PM

former legend wrote: »

Yes, definitely, but there have been cases recently (e.g. the Munster v Perpignan game) where the ball has clearly gone forward out of a player's hands and posters here have been saying "it doesn't matter, his hands went backwards".

The key point here is that trajectory of the ball relative to the passing player is the main focus, not the direction of his hands.

Yes, but generally speaking if the players hands are going backwards the trajectory of the ball relative to the player will be backwards.

former legend · 06-02-2014 08:50PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Yes, but generally speaking if the players hands are going backwards the trajectory of the ball relative to the player will be backwards.

Generally speaking yes. But that's the point of this clarification, that trajectory of the ball is key and direction of the hands is only to help the ref decide which way the ball went.

locum-motion · 06-02-2014 09:48PM

former legend wrote: »

Generally speaking yes. But that's the point of this clarification, that relative trajectories of the ball before and after it leaves the passer's hands is key and direction of the hands is only to help the ref decide which way the ball went.

FYP!

.ak · 07-02-2014 10:32AM

For me the easiest way to ref it is - did the receiver catch the ball infront of the passer?

former legend · 07-02-2014 11:04AM

locum-motion wrote: »

FYP!

It didn't need to be fixed, see post #1816.

Shelflife · 07-02-2014 06:20PM

Its simple lads, the ball can go forward from a pass as in momentum can carry it forward, but it cant be passed forward.:D

Orlaw3136 · 07-02-2014 06:23PM

.ak wrote: »

For me the easiest way to ref it is - did the receiver catch the ball infront of the passer?

I get what you're saying but...if wind blows ball forward :pac:

On a serious note the point is that if the passer is stopped immediately on passing the pass can look very obviously forward relative to the two players because the receiver will indeed catch it ahead of the passer, whereas if the passer ran on it wouldn't look problematic at all. Assuming the ball was passed backwards from the passer's perspective neither would be a forward pass.

I think Shelflife has it bang on.

locum-motion · 07-02-2014 08:03PM

.ak wrote: »

For me the easiest way to ref it is - did the receiver catch the ball infront of the passer?

Except that - with respect - you would be incorrect to use that criterion. Watch the IRB's own explanatory video that I posted a couple of posts back. It shows quite clearly that a player running at speed can catch a backward pass in front of the player that passed it, if the passer has stopped or been stopped after passing.

karma_ · 12-02-2014 12:37AM

Perhaps this is not the right place to ask but although I enjoy Rugby and watch the six nations every year theres some questions I have about the game and perhaps someone can answer them for me.

Why are drop goals considered cheap?

How come sometimes when a player close to the touchline going for a try wont run closer to the posts for the easier kick when that appears to be on?

Why when a kick is blocked by hands is it not considered a knock on?

rje66 · 12-02-2014 12:52AM

karma_ wrote: »

Perhaps this is not the right place to ask but although I enjoy Rugby and watch the six nations every year theres some questions I have about the game and perhaps someone can answer them for me.

Why are drop goals considered cheap?▶they aren't, who said so????◀

How come sometimes when a player
close to the touchline going for a try wont run closer to the posts for the easier kick when that appears to be on?
▶in most cases he will if he can◀

Why when a kick is blocked by hands is it not considered a knock on?

no, he made no attempt to catch the ball. Attempt is the important word. Its covered in law.

locum-motion · 12-02-2014 01:20AM

karma_ wrote: »

...Why when a kick is blocked by hands is it not considered a knock on?

Quite simple really: because the Laws of the game say so. It's right there in Law 12:

Charge down. If a player charges down the ball as an opponent kicks it, or immediately after the kick, it is not a knock-on even though the ball may travel forward.

Doc · 12-02-2014 03:30AM

Couple of times when playing I have knocked on a ball and managed to get a boot to it just as / after it bounces efectivly making it a brop kick. Ive never gotten away with it mind you with the ref calling it back for a knock on. Was wondering if by the letter of the law this should have been a drop kick?

Doc · 12-02-2014 03:46AM

karma_ wrote: »

Perhaps this is not the right place to ask but although I enjoy Rugby and watch the six nations every year theres some questions I have about the game and perhaps someone can answer them for me.

Why are drop goals considered cheap?

How come sometimes when a player close to the touchline going for a try wont run closer to the posts for the easier kick when that appears to be on?

Why when a kick is blocked by hands is it not considered a knock on?

Drop goals are considered cheap by some because if you are in a position where you have a chance to take a drop at goal you more than likely are in a position where you could have had a chance to score a try in the next couple of phases of play. By taking the kick you are choosing to give up any possibility of scoring 7 points for the chance of 3. Drop kicks are also not the easiest of kicks to make so your chances of even getting 3 points are not the best. Generally you would only go for a drop kick if you have a referee playing advantage for a penalty because if you miss you will still get the ball back. The only other time its generally acceptable to most is if the team with the ball is down by less than 3 points and normal time is up. If the opportunity comes then it may be worth the chance as the next stoppage would end the game. A drop kick when it is done for neither of these reasons is basically saying we can’t get through your defense.

When a player crosses the try line he often won’t run under the posts because although he is over the line he could still be tackled by the other them. If they manage to hold the ball up or if he was to knock on the ball he would not get the try so it’s not worth the risk for a better angle.

pickarooney · 12-02-2014 07:07AM

Why do players always wait until the last second to touch down the ball for a 22 drop out? I always think it looks a bit childish when they wait for the opposition player to be nearly on them before putting it down. Try scorers in sevens often do the same thing.

Sundy · 12-02-2014 07:16AM

pickarooney wrote: »

Why do players always wait until the last second to touch down the ball for a 22 drop out? I always think it looks a bit childish when they wait for the opposition player to be nearly on them before putting it down. Try scorers in sevens often do the same thing.

To wind down the clock and to force the opposition to close them down really.

The only time not to delay is if a restart goes in goal. If the defender delays it is considered to be playing on and therefore loses the right to a scrum back.

Scartbeg · 12-02-2014 07:22AM

Orlaw3136 wrote: »

I get what you're saying but...if wind blows ball forward :pac:

On a serious note the point is that if the passer is stopped immediately on passing the pass can look very obviously forward relative to the two players because the receiver will indeed catch it ahead of the passer, whereas if the passer ran on it wouldn't look problematic at all. Assuming the ball was passed backwards from the passer's perspective neither would be a forward pass.

I can see this being hard to justify if it happened on the try line. Imagine the uproar from the crowd as the TMO shows the try scorer receiving the ball over the try line, after the passer is tackled before the line. Is the TMO going to award the try? I suspect not.

cython · 12-02-2014 10:05AM

Sundy wrote: »

To wind down the clock and to force the opposition to close them down really.

The only time not to delay is if a restart goes in goal. If the defender delays it is considered to be playing on and therefore loses the right to a scrum back.

In some cases there can potentially be a hope of catching a few players offside if they then take the drop out quickly too. I'm almost certain I've seen it done once or twice whereby the ball is passed forward (between plays) immediately after being touched down to a player who then takes it quickly, at which point the chasing players (unless they are very quick to retreat) can't put in a tackle immediately.

Orlaw3136 · 12-02-2014 10:14AM

Scartbeg wrote: »

I can see this being hard to justify if it happened on the try line. Imagine the uproar from the crowd as the TMO shows the try scorer receiving the ball over the try line, after the passer is tackled before the line. Is the TMO going to award the try? I suspect not.

Good point regarding the uproar - actually I'd be confident it would be allowed in any game at a level where there was a TMO operating.

Orlaw3136 · 12-02-2014 10:16AM

pickarooney wrote: »

Why do players always wait until the last second to touch down the ball for a 22 drop out? I always think it looks a bit childish when they wait for the opposition player to be nearly on them before putting it down. Try scorers in sevens often do the same thing.

It's often to pull in a couple of defenders, then touch down and fire the ball out to the 22 where the kick can be taken immediately. There should be slightly better options for the drop out, especially if the defender(s) are wide players.

Orlaw3136 · 12-02-2014 10:24AM

Doc wrote: »

Couple of times when playing I have knocked on a ball and managed to get a boot to it just as / after it bounces efectivly making it a brop kick. Ive never gotten away with it mind you with the ref calling it back for a knock on. Was wondering if by the letter of the law this should have been a drop kick?

No. Law 12 states that :-

"A knock-on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm, or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it.‘Forward’ means towards the opposing team’s dead ball line."

In your example, you've 'lost possession' and it has gone forward, then touched the ground (or you've ''hit the ball forward with hand or arm' or the ball has 'hit your hand or arm and gone forward') so that's a knock on.

In the 'Definitions' the law defines a Drop Kick as being when the ball is dropped from the hand or hands to the ground and kicked as it rises from its first bounce. Correctly interpreted, the dropping of the ball to the ground has to be considered intentional to avoid a knock on.

12-02-2014 10:25AM

Scartbeg wrote: »

I can see this being hard to justify if it happened on the try line. Imagine the uproar from the crowd as the TMO shows the try scorer receiving the ball over the try line, after the passer is tackled before the line. Is the TMO going to award the try? I suspect not.

Can the TMO rule on forward passes?

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