cheers guys, hypothetically if it was for not realeasing, it would have been an incorrect call?
Not necessarily. I'm going to talk briefly about the tackle Law now, because its important to understand that the "Law 15" tackle is a special case.
At the tackle, referees are told that the tackler must release the tackled player to allow him to release, place, push or pass the ball. Tacklers are no longer allowed to do what Richie McCaw, George Smith, Heinrich Brussouw and other fetchers used to do; tackle the ball carrier then get to their feet still holding him or the ball. They now have to completely let go of both. Other players who bring the ball carrier to ground while remaining on their feet must release the tackled player and re-enter through the gate. Even if they are already standing in the gate, they still must release the tackled player. You often hear referees tell players that they want to see "daylight"; a clear release of the tackled player.
However, these restrictions do not apply outside of the tackle. Any player on the ground, holding the ball, must release the ball to a player on his feet.
In the Law 14 situation, the ball is on the ground and a player goes to ground to take possession. There has been no tackle, and therefore there is no gate. Players can come from any direction. Players who are not on their feet are not allowed to do anything that prevents the players who
are on their feet from taking the ball. If an opponent grabs the ball, the player on the ground must release it immediately. If he doesn't, its a penalty for "not releasing"
At a collapsed maul, while there is no requirement to roll away, if the player who was in possession at the time of the collapse has gone to ground, and
an onside opponent on his feet tries to take the ball off him, the player on the ground must release it. If he doesn't, its a penalty for "not releasing"
Rugby 101; the man on his feet is King!