Scotland v South Africa -application of “use it” 5 second rule.

[malters]

My understanding of laws of rugby is limited to explanations and descriptions given by TV commentators on several years of enjoyment watching live games. There are many comments about new laws and the attempts to achieve consistency of interpretation by referees. On Sunday Scotland scrum half Ben White was penalised for exceeding the 5 second time limit. However it seemed to me that South Africa's captain Eben Etzebeth had already crossed the offside line before Ben White had picked up the ball and before the referee had blown the whistle to penalise White. Why was Etzebeth not penalised before White? Does the offside law no longer apply 5 seconds after the "use it" call? If the latter is the case, this is surely adding an extra pressure on scrum half's in already highly pressurised circumstances. In terms of consistency of approach to interpretation of laws, there was a circumstance in a recent Gallagher Premiership match when Bath scrum half Ben Spencer clearly in the referees opinion overstepped the 5 second rule for the first time but was not penalised, but merely given a verbal warning. Where is the consistency of interpretation and application of the rules?

 

[AlRums]

There wasn't any consistency of interpretation and application of the laws in that match.

 

[nh206]

I think the Etzebeth was bargaining on the fact that the player who was added to the ruck was not actually bound to the ruck and therefore the ball was out. The variations in interpretation between refs in different leagues were notable in the Champions Cup a few years ago and Etzebeth used it to great effect to charge down Danny Care and score against Quins.
I don't know whether that is the interpretation the ref made, but it would at least explain Etzebeth loitering in an "offside" position.