Honestly, Watson's comments are moronic.
I think it's disgusting he is even making them.
Rugby 101 - hold onto the ball.
It wasn't deliberatly knocked out of the player's hand, and even the player's reaction at the time shows that he lost it.
This is complete BS from Watson and the SARFU.
Trying to excuse what is poor refereeing standards.
Another couple of clangers like this from the SA refs, and I reckon SANZAR should go back to neutral refs.
Just to update you all on this...
After SARU asked for clarification on this issue, the iRB have confirmed that SANZAR Referee manager was correct in his assessment that Stuart Berry and the TMO go this decision wrong.
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Clarification 1 2014
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee
Ruling
1-2014
Union
SARU
Law Reference
12
Date
25 March 2014
Request
Law 12 â€" Knock-on
Law 12, definition states, “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 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.†The law does not explicitly cover scenarios where the ball is knocked-out of the grasp of a ball carrier.
We refer to ruling 4 of 2011 and believe the answer could come from this ruling.
Concern is expressed that this type of play may affect the game going forward as the “tackle†will be down played and the slapping, knocking the ball out of the ball carrier’s grasp will prevail.
However, for the sake of clarity and consistency of ruling by referees worldwide, in the following scenarios has a knock-on occurred?
- A ball carrier from team red runs with the ball in the direction of team blue goal line, a defender/tackler from team blue attempts to tackle from behind and makes contact with his hand on the ball. This action caused the ball to be lost “forward†from the ball carrier. The last contact on the ball was that of the defender before it went forward. Is this a knock on by player red or a play on as the blue tackler knocked the ball back â€" similar to a rip, ruling 4 of 2011?
- Same scenario as above but the defender/tackler does not make contact with the ball but his action causes the ball carrier from team Blue to loose possession of the ball and it travels forward. Please confirm that this is knock-on.
Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Comtmitee
If a player in tackling an opponent makes contact with the ball and the ball goes forward from the ball carriers hands, that is a knock on.
If a player rips the ball or deliberately knocks the ball from an opponent's hands and the ball goes forward from the ball carrier's hands, that is not a knock on.
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In effect, they have told Andre Watson (SARU) that he is wrong. I'm not surprised really, because for once, what the iRB have said makes logical sense.
Ripping is an intentional action, dislodging the ball in the course of a tackle is not, even if the tackler makes contact with the ball. They have effectively ratified a 100+ years of tradition of the game, that the onus is on the ball carrier to maintain possession of the ball in the tackle, and that the only time he is excused that onus is if an opponent intentionally targets the ball.
End of, case closed.
